News: Morbonoct reveal lyrics for new single "Cold Wind"

Black Metal band Morbonoct from Ukraine/Poland, are releasing a new album called No One Knows We're Dying on the 12th of December, through Black Metal Promotion.

To give us all a taste of what's coming, they released on the 14th of November the single Cold Wind, which is now available on all streaming platforms.

Lachryma Christi is very honoured to share with you, first-hand, the lyrics for this amazing track.

You can listen to Cold Wind here:

Lyrics: 

"Dominant arrogance

Cult of the mighty ones

Sadness a weakness

Vanquished morality

Your dreams will perish

And turn into dust

Stay close, the path is thin

Revere the fleeting thread

For we shall end within

Pax aeterna animae

Again, I see

Her pale white face

Rage, disdain

She walks with deadly grace

The keeper of my fate

She walks me to

The gates of hell

Her velvet touch

My final bell

I'm drowning in my own self

The treasure i cannot find

I lost my will to live

I think i'm losing time

I think i'm losing time

Drowning in myself 

I'm bleeding

I'm dying inside

I think 

I think im losing time

Again

I don't know what to do

I stand alone

Among the last few

Sleepless nights

Were testament to my fate

I'm coexisting with pressure

And pain that was forced

Upon my name

Perpetrator not a victim

That's exactly who I am

Kept my love so tight

When she died inside

Her blood is on my hands

Still alive

Sleepless nights

I'll die tonight

Cold winds call, my time is near,

Lost in night, consumed by fear.

Shadows fall, I can't break free

Cold winds are calling my name

My time is soon to come

I can't break free

Cold winds call my name"

In case you don't know, Morbonoct play a symphonic, atmospheric, aggressive but also melodic Black Metal, with a touch of cosmic and space elements. Their music is very passionate, intense, deep.

I was very pleased with the previous album The Highest Purpose which came out last year (review here: https://lachrymachristizine.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-morbonocts-new-album-highest.html), and I'm very eager to listen to No One Knows We're Dying, because Cold Wind is so so good. Just beautiful!

Review: Empalamento's upcoming EP "Ordem da Estaca"

Tonight, Lachryma Christi brings you a review to the debut EP from Portuguese Black Metal band Empalamento.

The EP is called Ordem da Estaca (Stake Horde), and is scheduled to be released on the 10th of June, through Haloran Records.

My first impression was: "It sounds quite vampiric."

And it is! I wasn't aware until now, but it is dedicated to Vlad III the Impaler. Which is amazing. I love the idea. And you can right away hear and feel that vibe. With the keyboards being a huge part of that, of course. 

So, Ordem da Estaca has 7 tracks, all of them in Portuguese. I'm surprised, wasn't expecting so many songs.

I was quite curious about this EP, was waiting for it to be sent to me, so I could listen to it and review it, since I haven't had the chance to see the band live yet. I didn't know what to expect. And I didn't read the description on the email or anything about it before I listened to the songs, so I wouldn't let myself be influenced by others' opinions (usually that's my modus operandi in the reviews), and so I would let myself be surprised, for the good and for the bad. The thing is, with Empalamento and Ordem da Estaca there are no bad surprises. 

You can tell where their influences come from, exactly. And these guys have good taste. However it is extremely important to add that it is not a copy, thankfully. I come across many copy and paste music when I listen to a new Black Metal album or EP, and Empalamento certainly have their own identity. Their music is very cold, dark and obscure, almost ritualistic at times, but also no doubt very versatile. You get surprised along the songs, as the elements pop in an out, then there are also the keyboards, which go from spooky and mystical to epic, without any warning. I like this. There is also a combo of voices, going from gutural to screaming, to recitation, which was also a fresh breeze for me. I like this too. There is a guest voice by Koraxid (Grievance, Medo) on track 5 which shares the title of the EP. I wasn't aware of it until I recognised the voice while i was listening to the song. So I apologise if this is a spoiler for you :)

Moving on, usually I chose a favourite song, but this time I can't. I liked the whole EP as a whole, and I don't think it makes sense otherwise. 

There are three instrumental songs, the first one Deambulação Abismal (Reino das Tormentas) which works as an intro, the fourth one Devaneios, and the last one of course, Maldição Intemporal which brings the perfect ending for the release too, and perhaps some chills down your spine. It certainly did it for me. Spooky. Again, I like it. 

Production is excellent, and I'm happy about this. I'm very satisfied it is like this. Although contradicting a bit the essence of Black Metal music, and contradicting even the theme of the band and of the EP, with the mix of sounds and voices and the keyboards and all, it wouldn't have worked as a raw release. It would have possibly been a huge mess. So, good job. Fantastic job.

Now, to see these guys live. I really want to. And I'm also hoping that the next release keeps up with the same majesty as Ordem da Estaca. 

Empalamento are Lord Drahkul and NekroTeppes. 

Ordem da Estaca has Koraxid as especial guest on drums, and voice on track 5 as mentioned above. 

Don't forget the date, it's the 10th of June! Via Haloran Records. 

News: Medo make all their releases available online

Black Metal project Medo from Portugal, just made all their releases available in all online platforms.

Medo were active between 2006 and 2016, and released three albums and a demo along those years. 

There are no plans of reactivating the project, but at least their music is now widely available to everyone who wishes to listen to it! 

Out now: Vehemence Abyss' album "Echoes of the Macabre: True Crime Legends"

Portuguese Black Metal band Vehemence Abyss, just released their new album Echoes of the Macabre: True Crime Legends, on the 25th of December.

It is their second full-length, and it promises to deliver a very technical old school Black Metal music.

The album has 7 tracks, all and each of them about the story of very well known murderers and serial killers.

It is intense, fast, full of anger and fury. If you need that boost of adrenaline, this album might work well for you.

Echoes of the Macabre: True Crime Legends is available for you to listen to, and also for you to purchase, here:

https://studios13.bandcamp.com/album/echoes-of-the-macabre-true-crime-legends

Enjoy 🤘

Review: Corroding Soul's EP "Nothing"

UK atmospheric Black Metal one man band Corroding Soul released a EP last April, called Nothing.

The EP has 4 tracks, of a very uplifting atmospheric Black Metal. I don't even know if I'd call it atmospheric. It's not raw, it's not traditional, has definitely some atmospheric elements, but I find it different than most atmospheric Black Metal, as it brings more joy and energy.

After listening to Nothing, I feel inspired, energised, motivated. Not sure this is what David was aiming for, but for me it is a good thing. Some Black Metal makes you depressed, other takes you out of depression, other makes you angry, other makes you emotional, and so on. Nothing gave me a boost and I am very happy with it.

I usually name a favourite track when I do a review, here it won't be different. I go with Unveil. But title track is also amazing. So full of strength and power.

This review was long overdue, and my only regret is that only now I managed to get to it. 

So if you like Black Metal with a synth as a very strong background, if you like some more light and melodic Black Metal than not, if you want something to make you feel full of vigor and if you're not very strict about the traditional, then you'll like Nothing.

It is very different from the music I usually get to review, it is also very different from the music I usually go for, but I definitely liked and will listen to it again.

Review: 1349's upcoming album "The Wolf and The King"

1349 bring us a very professional, aggressive, rough, piercing Black Metal, always. 

The Wolf and The King is another example of it. There's perfection in there.

The album is scheduled to be released on the 4th of October via Season of Mist. So, you'll just have to wait a little bit longer to listen to this masterpiece.

The Norwegian traces are all there, you can tell. But regardless where they're from, they want to make the best Black Metal possible, and they do it, no doubt.

The Wolf and The King has 8 tracks, and I'm having a difficulty in choosing a favourite one, because they're all fabulous. The album works as a whole, the songs complement each other, and their brutality is undeniable. However, track 4 Inferior Pathways left all my hair standing on end. That solo is worth millions. 

The track Fatalist as the song that wraps the album, is just the perfect choice. Such a fierce song.

I've never seen 1349 live, I've always wanted to, and now with this album out, I want it even more.

So, The Wolf and The King brings us around 40 minutes of pure Black Metal in it's original shape and form. It is grim, it is rich, it is grinding, it is majestic. I can't find anything I don't like in there. 

If you fancy going back to the primordial times of Black Metal, here is your chance. The thing is, once you listen to it, you have to listen to it on a loop. It's so bloody good. One of the best albums of 2024 for Lachryma Christi, for sure.

Every time a song starts it is so brutal, so fast, so full, so robust, so eloquent, I'm running out of words here.

Even if you don't know 1349, you can tell they have been on this roll for quite some time, and you can understand how they are such an experienced, competent, sharp band. Their music is technical, ferocious, extreme. 

The Wolf and The King is a masterful album. I can't wait for it to be out, so many other people can share the intensity of it!

Review: Seth's new album "La France des Maudits"

Black Metal band from France Seth, released today their new album, through Season of Mist, La France des Maudits. This is their seventh album,

Seth have been around for quite some time (with an hiatus in the middle at some point), and I quite enjoy Seth's music. This album is no exception.

What can you expect of La France des Maudits? 

Well. It has 8 songs plus a bonus track, all in French Alexandrine. Seth play a more melodic Black Metal than not. This album is also melodic, touching the emotional even. As you can imagine by the name of the album, their songs are quite rebellious and full of anger and fury too. 

When I say their music is melodic, I mean that besides the blast beats and the aggressive riffs and voice full of despair, the songs stick to your head. It is not a raw Black Metal band, and at the same time their songs are not exactly catchy, but the melodies stay with you. You may find yourself humming the tunes hours after you heard the album for the first time.

Seth really know how to make you feel their songs. You feel all the pain, all the hatred, all the wrath. La France des Maudits is a very tumultuous and heated album, and you can fell it right in your core.

There are two tracks that are calmer. The 4th song Dans le Cœur un Poignard is almost like a ballad, as if gradually preparing us for Marianne, which is an instrumental song. It serves almost as a break before they return with more anger, more brutality, more rage.

My favourite track might actually be the one after that, Ivre du Sang des Saints. It brings such a burning feeling.

I was very much anticipating this album, and I'm very happy to hear how it turned out. Once again, Seth showing us how they can make such a passionate and intense Black Metal. 

If you're into this fast and also melodic Black Metal, with keyboards on the background giving even more strength and emphasis to the suffered atmosphere, you'll love La France des Maudits. It's the perfect soundtrack for when you have to let it all out. All your anger, all your pain, all your agony. I loved every bit of it.