Undertaker  Of  The  Damned  are  a  band  from  Chile  a  blasphemous  and  old  school  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018 album  "Satanas  Potestas  Est"  which  was  released  by  Australis  Records.

  Water  sounds  and  clean  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  demonic  voices  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  after  the  intro.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies.

  Vocals  bring  in  a  good  mixture  of  demonic  growls  and  grim  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  A  brief  use  of church  bells  can  also  be  heard  and  they  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling  along  with  the  music  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  influences.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  it  also gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  when  guitar  leads  are  used  briefly  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Spanish  and  cover  Satanism,  Anti  Christianity  and  Blasphemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Undertaker  Of  The  Damned  are  a  very  great  sounding  blasphemous  and  old  school  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Escupe  La  Cruz"  and  "Exterminio".  8  out  of  10. 

    

  Downfall  Of  Gaia  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  atmospheric post  black,  sludge  metal  and  crust  and  this  is  a  review  of their  2019  album  "Ethic  Of  Radical  Finitude"  which  will be released  in  February  by  Metal  Blade  Records.



  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while also  introducing  synths onto  the  recording  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  When  the  music speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fat  parts.  When  acoustic  guitars  are  utilized  they  also gives  the music  more  of  a  progressive  style.

  Elements  of  post  metal  can  also  be heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  capturing  the  heaviness  of  sludge.    Some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  throughout  the  recording.

  Some  of  the  faster  sections  of  the  music  also  display  an  influence  of  crust  punk  while  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.  At  times  the  music  also  captures  a  very  tragic  sounding  atmosphere  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  songs  also  start  bringing  in  more  diversity  as  well as  the  closing  track  also  introducing  clean  vocals  onto  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  depression  and  darkness  themes.

  In  my opinion  Downfall  Of  Gaia  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  atmospheric  post  black,  sludge  metal  and  crust  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Grotesque  Illusion  of  Being"  and  "Of  Withering  Violet  Leaves".  8  out  of  10.

  Nebula  Orionis is  a  solo  project  from  Russia  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  cinematic  and  instrumental  mixture  of  black  and  space  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2019  album  "Starthrone"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Caus  Belli  Musica  and  Beverina.

  Ambient  style  soundscapes  and  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  programmed  beats  also  being  introduced  into  the  music  a  few  seconds  later  and  the  cinematic  and  atmospheric  elements  are  also  added  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music.  A  Couple  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length. 

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  music  also  captures  the  more  atmospheric  side  of  black  metal.  Elements  of  space  music  are  also  mixed  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  which  also  gives  the  tracks  more  of  an  epic  and  sci  fi  atmosphere.

  Most  of  the  music  sticks  to  mostly  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  good  amount  of  melody. A  lot  of  post  black  metal  influences  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  also  sounds  very  professional.

  In  my  opinion  Nebula  Orionis  is  a  very  great  sounding   atmospheric,  cinematic  and  instrumental  mixture  of  black  and  space  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  'Starthrone"  and  "Nullification".  8  out  of  10.        

  Heaume  Mortal  are  a  band  from  France  that  plats  a  mixture  of  atmospheric  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Solstices"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Les  Acteurs  de  I'Ombre  Productions.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  atmospheric  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  vocals  are  added  into  the  music  they  are  all  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Clean  guitars  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  dissonant  structures  at  times.  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower sections  of  the  music  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.  Blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well as  some  nature  orientated  soundscapes  also  being  used  briefly.  A  great  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  the  guitar  riffing  and  at  times  they  screams  also  add  in  more  of  a  depressive  style.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  As  the  album  progresses  they  also  bring  in  a  cover  of  Burzum's  "Erblicket  die  tochter  des  firmament"  as  well as  well  as  the  last  track  also  introducing  ambient  style  synths  onto  the  recording  which  is  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics   cover  nature,  ancient  and  modern  world  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Heume  Mortal  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  atmospheric  black  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Yesteyears"  and  "Oldborn".  8  out  of  10.   

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



Scarrowscant: Plagurehurst just happened. We are cousins so we have known each other for some time however, this is the first time we have played together. I was in a vengeful place due to one band I was in falling apart, and it was the perfect antidote to all their fragile weakness, apathy and indecision.

Beormingas: I had not played in many years at the time but this all happened, and came to be very organically. There was no pushing, or forcing of ideas, we just came together and things started to happen.

Scarrowscant: This was the majesty of it all, I wanted to be involved in a project that had focus, and Plaguehurst has that in abundance, it is a sword thrust into the earth.



2.Early this year you had released your first album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on the recording?



Scarrowscant: We would just work off each other. I would come up with the back bone, and Beorimgas would add the dynamic elements with his proficient guitar work, and elevate things to a supreme place. It was easy.

Beormingas: We wanted to keep that rawness, so everything was recorded as it happened.

Scarrowscant: I have an old mono Philips valve radio from the 1950’s which I used for all my guitar parts. We just used what we could find when we needed it. The drums for instance was one of the cheapest kits I could find. It was all about getting things down, getting that essence as it happens instead of thinking. Thought kills feeling.



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



Scarrowscant: I write the words to stand on their own. They are incantations, they are ritual verse and it is important to get them recorded in one take. I am not interested in what is meant to be a black metal lyric, what you should or should not say, this is reductive. I am possessed when I have verses to write, and have to get them down then and there. It is hate, total hate, and a constant sense of a vengeful shadow that follows all of the Devils servants. I only take part of the writing credit as at times the words come from another place.





4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Plaguehurst'?



Beormingas: The united kingdom is littered with plague pits, where they just dumped the corpses of those who died during the black death. A pit just like this was discovered very close to where we record, so it seemed fitting. Hurst is the old English word for hill, or mound.



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



Scarrowscant: That is a very big question. It is a photo of one of us, but which one is irrelevant. It represents the fact that we all stand in a stark blackness surrounded by the idiocy of hope, and white light faiths.





6.So far their is very little information about the band other than the bandcamp page, is that more of an intentional thing for now?



Beormingas: It is very intentional.



7.Has the band done any live shows or is this strictly a studio project?



Beormingas: I have played live over the years in many bands, and I am looking into this as a potential, and know of musicians who could learn our parts and make performing live a reality however Scarrowscant has always been resistant.

Scarrowscant: For the most part I would like for Plaguehurst to remain a studio band like most of my favourite recording artists. Also, I am reluctant to take to a stage as the feel of the record may be compromised in some way if we performed live. But, I am not thick headed, I am not completely locked to this notion and if I change my mind in the future so be it.

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



Beormingas: We have had many favourable messages and feedback has been good. I think for the most part people feel it is something different yet old and familiar.

Scarrowscant: We made the record for ourselves, so that did not constrain any of the arrangements, we didn’t sound guess ourselves with questions we just played off feel. Perhaps that has come through and is what is engaging people or repelling them.





9.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?



Scarrowscant: We have recently decided to seek out labels, there are many labels I feel we would suit Plaguehurst perfectly. Time will tell.



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



Scarrowscant: We do not make plans, we just do.



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?



Scarrowscant: Craft, particularly early Craft is something that unites us both.

Beormingas: Definitely. We listen to a large cross section of music. Clandestine Blaze, Azelisassath, the criminally overlooked and underrated Throneum, lots of stuff is always on rotation.

Scarrowscant: It’s getting colder here in the U.K so some of the rawer stuff that has that perfect feeling, Sanguine Relic, Caverns, also I am listening to a lot of Korium, and Epheles at the moment. Feeling is everything.









12.How would you describe your views on Satanism?



Scarrowscant: I have walked with the devil since I was five years old, he is a part of me as much as my blood and flesh is. To me there is no point in trying to be part of any so called church, or group or sect or seeking out any mystically Satanic tomb. I did that in my adolescence, searched for the knowledge, and devoured the infernal books, but as time ravages and I grow older I know it is something that is unquantifiable, it is as mists or vapours. Like true black metal, Satan is a feeling, a sense, an atmosphere, it permeates everything you do without trying, without posturing, and without effort. That is how we approach the music, we let that timeless entity guide our hands.



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



Scarrowscant: Support the black flame, support Plaguehurst