Rotten  Moon  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  very  raw  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  demo  "In  The  Vale  Of  Astral  Graves"  which  was  released  by  Wolfmond  Production.

  A  very  dark  synth  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  demo  along  with  some  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  music  also  captures  a  very  lo-fi  atmosphere  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  Synths  also  make  a  brief  return  on  some  of  the  later  tracks.

  Rotten  Moon  plays  a  style  of  black  meta  that  is  very  raw  and  lo-fi  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  astral  and  celestial  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Rotten  Moon  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  lo-fi  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Veils  Of  Life,  Depart"  and  "Shrouded  Wisdom".  8  out  of  10.

  Ravendust  are  a  solo  project  from  Switzerland  that  plays  a  very  traditional  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "The  Gold  Of  The  Aura"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Wolfmond  Production.

  Dark sounding  synths  and  operatic  voices  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and raw  musical  direction  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  music  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  influences.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  very  true  to  an  old  school  style   along  with  one  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melodic  chants  and  ritualistic  whispers.

  The  synths  also  making  a  return  on  some  of the  later  tracks,  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Darkness,  Death,  Occultism  and  Folklore  themes.    

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ravendust    and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  traditional  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "No  God"  "The  Mermaid"  and  "Ravendust".  8  out  of  10.

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

Crimson Dimension is a blackened progressive metal band from Central Finland. The band has been playing together with different line-ups about 10 years and the current line-up has been together for about 8 years already. We have always been writing and playing our own songs. After rehearsing and recording demos of these songs for some time we decided to go ahead and work on a full album.

2.You have your first full length coming out in June, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Yes, our debut album is to be released on 4th of June 2021. During the writing and working on the album we never were thinking about the style. The musical style just happened as an evolutionary process. As a result we produced long progressive compositions with a dark atmosphere.

3.The band has been around since 2017 but you waited until 2021 to release a full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the earlier years?

Actually we have been around longer, but we released a single demo of the song "Black Mass" in 2017. We rehearsed and made instrumental arrangements and perfected the songs some years at our rehearsal place. The recording process took a long time and there was no reason to hurry with the release.

4.Some of your lyrics cover satanic and occult themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?

Yes, there’s that satanic message in the lyrics. Some members of the band may be more interested in these things than others.

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

The subjects are a mixture of lived life and all the shit that has happened in it.  Also thoughts of the smallness of man in this great emptiness around us. We've tried to make lyrics that wouldn’t be too black and white stuff. So that there would be a touch surface for all listeners. The Satanic message is a very strong part of the lyrics of course.

6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Crimson Dimension'?

The band was nameless for a long time. At some point the name Crimson Dimension came up. The name fits our lyrical themes and style of the music.

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

Our vocalist has real goat skulls as relics. We decided to have a photoshoot session with the skulls and it became the theme of the album cover as well. The skulls also present the occult themes on our lyrics as mentioned before.

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

We have done a few live shows with the previous line-up and under different name. We will see what happens in the future

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

There have been a few articles about our band and some good publicity. The reactions and comments have been positive or promising so far. Interesting to see what reactions the release of the album will get.

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

The style was never planned as mentioned previously. We are currently working on new music and so far it is going to be more complex. The song lengths are going to be longer rather than shorter.

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?

Every band member takes inspiration from their own favorite music and artists. As a band we like to channel this inspiration from many sources to our own music.

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

Thank you for the interview and interest in our band. We hope you and readers of this interview will like our debut album.

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

First riff appeared for T.O.M.E. somewhere in 2007. In that moment it wasn't a band yet, but that cold, mean and harsh riff was the start for this all. So we knew with our guitarist what we have to do. Establish a new "secret" project that speaks with the voice of deepest wrath. Wrath against the species called homo sapiens. Species which has forgotten how to deal with nature. Place which permits our existence. Me myself, you and everyone are targets for this ultimate hate. Bass player and ambient wizard joined little later to create this black art with us and their work did us complete. Our music and message is hopeless likewise whole humankind’s destiny.     

2.In June you have a new album coming out,musically how does it differ from your previous demo?

Actually it doesn't differ in any way. It's the same record. We created I-III ready to be published like that.

So it's wrong to call it a demo, cause we passed that chapter.  

3.This is also your first release in 9 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

This band was frozen all that time. When we got I-III ready in 2008 we actually didn't advertise this band very much. I sent one cd-r copy to imperiumi.net:s Mr. Serpent for review, second one to other review media and gave one for Karhumäki from Primitive Reaction. And that was funny thing, he got only cd-r covers. Record was inside my car’s cd player. I think that was quite a problem for him get some vision about our art. But finally now first three acts will come officially out. It gives a reason for T.O.M.E. to activate itself again.  

4.A lot of your lyrics cover Scandinavian Nature themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

It could be obvious that nature, especially Scandinavian nature is important for me. Like for every member in our band. All of us do something in nature every day more or less. Eventhough we live in a small city, nature is close and it surrounds us all. Lakes, streams, swamps, forests, rocks and dwellers of those. Have to remember that those dwellers which I meant are not humans. And what is best in Scandinavia is that the nature is still diverse and beautiful everywhere. But for how long? There's the question. For example I never have travelled more south than Helsinki and in fact I don't have intentions to pass that border ever. Only way is up to north. Northern Norway is place where my mind is relaxed and breathing is free. Also fatherland’s Lapland is close to my heart. Every year couple of weeks in there with your fly rod, tent and some single malt. Can it go better? I don't think so. But don't mix us to countless "hipster" and post-black metal bands. We are totally in different stall than them. Our purpose is rather opposite in many way I think. Pretending inside black metal art is contemptible. But yes, there is nature themes that will combine us and nature is a fountain of inspiration for many so called "true" black metal bands too, but most important priority of T.O.M.E.:s content is extinction of humankind. Our inner Master will proceed that mission sooner or later. 

5.I know that the bands name means 'Tome For Misanthropic Experience', how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

First I have to correct one thing. It's "Tome Of  Misanthropic Experience". First letters of bands full name and you get abbreviation T.O.M.E.. Simple. It fit perfectly to bands concept, message and atmosphere. It should be audible. Can't say more about that. Either understand it or not.

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is 

presented on the new album cover?

That place where photo session was, is my grandparent’s home. Little farm in Southern Savonia. It was a good place to take photos for the album. Atmosphere there was something weird. Creepy but same time it brought back memories from childhood of course. It has been abandoned now for about 35 years. What man builds, that will be property of nature after all. Before and after. Those pictures will reflect that perfectly in my eyes.  

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

No live shows with this band. T.O.M.E. will stay studio project. My opinion is that black metal doesn't work very well in live situation. It's alright to play, but never enjoyable in audience. Maybe I'm alone with this opinion, but black metal works best in your own living room with yourself. Do you want to go a Burzum gig??? I wouldn't. It's better to put Filosofem in your own record player.

8.The new album is going to be released on 'Spread Evil Productions'. how did you get in contact with this label?

Biggest cheers for this opportunity goes Mr. H from Marras. Great band by the way! He introduced us to Spread Evil crew. I assume that they liked our art enough.  

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

I don't know. I think that our visibility is just in the beginning and hopefully it will grow. Label took a risk with us and I hope that the records will find new owners.

10.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

Yes.

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

Hard to say, but one thing is sure. We won't do same record twice, but continuum between records will be a part of this concept. And second, music will come to be sinister, cold, raw, insane, atmospheric, groovy and honest also in future. I'm interested and excited what there will come.

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?

Bands where our influences come are so many and each member has their own favorites. Of course there are some joined favorites between members. Darkthrone, Mayhem and Burzum are probably three most important bands which everyone of us can relate to. What comes to my own music taste, well I listen all kinds of music which sounds good to my own ear and over genre borders. Mostly black metal, some old school death metal (Obituary PERKELE!), progressive rock, folk and much more.

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

It's not a right time for final words yet. First we need to complete this work. After that we can sigh and turn in mold. 

https://youtu.be/MeWMbCC_nB8

  Tristwood  are  a  band  from  Austria  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  avant  garde,  industrial,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Dystopia  et  Disturbia"  which  will  be  re-issued  on  June  18th,  2021  by  Visionaire  Productions.

  Industrial  style  beats  and  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  riffing  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  it  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Samples  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks along  with  one  track  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording  as  well  as  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  the  music  also  has  its  avant  garde  moments  and  as  the  album  progresses  an  instrumental  can  also be  heard.

  On  this  recording  Tristwood  took  black  and  death  metal  and  mixed  it  with  avant  garde  and  industrial  to  create  something  very  different.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Agnosticism  and  War  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  recording  form  Tristwood  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde,  industrial,  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dystopia  Et  Disturbia"  "Chamaeleon  Bizzare"  and  "Jythand".  8  out  of  10.

Music | Tristwood (bandcamp.com)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx_Bda0CfqM

Tristwood - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives (metal-archives.com)