Review: Meister Leonhardt's upcoming album "Thanatopoeia"

Back Metal band Meister Leonhardt are releasing a new album called Thanatopoeia, via Purity Through Fire. The album is scheduled to be released on the 21st of March.

It is very good indeed, proper Black Metal, without artifacts. Going straight to my top releases of 2024.

So what can you expect from Thanatopoeia? 

Thanatopoeia has 6 amazing tracks, I can't even chose a favourite.

Meister Leonhardt's music is so powerful and furious. Also has it's melodic bits, of course, it is very well balanced, I have to say. But even those melodic parts have their dose of anger, and the whole album is very obscure. 

There is a very strong darkness through the whole release. I love it. The voice is also so desperate and full of rage and wrath, which adds a lot to the atmosphere. At some point there are clean voices, very subtle and appropriate, adding to the mystery.

This is the kind of album that I put on, and suddenly it had ended. The 6 tracks felt like they went so quickly, because the music is so good, so vibrant, so full of feel, so pleasant to listen to. 

I'd like to see Meister Leonhardt live.

 

So if you like Black Metal music that takes you elsewhere, through an icy and empowering journey, raw enough, melodic enough, where skill and talent stands out, and where you end up speechless as I am right now, go for it.

I feel quite energised after I listened to it. I, sure everyone else will too.

News: Paracrona sign with Wormholedeath to reissue their album "Sun God"

Melodic Black Metal band Paracrona joined forces with Wormholedeath Records, and are re-releasing their album Sun God on the 12th of April.

The band comments:

"Dear Fans and Music Lovers, We are thrilled to share some incredible news with you all! Paracrona is ecstatic to announce the re-release of our debut album "Sun God," now in partnership with the esteemed record company, Wormholedeath. This partnership marks an exciting chapter for us as a band. Collaborating with Wormholedeath allows us to reintroduce "Sun God, giving it a new lease of life and a chance to reach a wider audience.

Wormholedeath's passion for fostering unique musical journeys resonates deeply with our artistic vision. Together, we aim to bring "Sun God" to music enthusiasts around the world. To all our incredible supporters who have been our guiding light on this musical voyage, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your unwavering belief in our music fuels our passion, and we're thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with you once again.

Stay tuned for more updates, exclusive content, and details about the re-released "Sun God" album with Wormholedeath. Your continued support means everything to us, and we can't wait to take this musical adventure together!

Thank you for being a part of our story."

You can watch the video for the song Carry the Cross, featuring Baard Kolstad, here:

Line up:

Ringo Christiaan Van Droffelaar - vocals

Øystein Hansen - lead guitar

Audun Melby - rhythm guitar

Laszlo Juhos - drums

Gregg Roland Schneider - bass

Tracklist:

1. New Impurity

2. Carry the Cross

3. Thriller

4. Sun God

5. Mendacious

6. River of Pain

7. Therefore I Move the Time

8. Gates of Immortality

9. Reasons 

Read more on:

www.youtube.com/@PARACRONA

www.instagram.com/paracrona

www.facebook.com/Paracrona

twitter.com/PARACRONA

Review: Deathlike Dawn's new album "Among the Graves of the Archetypes"

Black Metal project Deathlike Dawn released yesterday (27th) their second album, Among the Graves of the Archetypes, through Putrid Cult.

It is quite different and original, I must say. Sometimes it is surprisingly and pleasantly disturbing. Especially track 2, Plutonic Ether. It has so many interesting and unexpected sounds and passages, it's so good and strange at the same time.

So, Among the Graves of the Archetypes has 6 tracks. All of them with the right dose of fastness and aggressiveness, balanced with the right dose of melody. But, it has very wacky and atonal and dissonant stuff, which makes it so different, and so good. The more you listen, the more your jaw drops.

My favourite track might be track 4, Darkly Treads the Twilight. Maybe because it is so angry but so melodic at the same time, and the keyboards are just on point. Nothing fancy nor symphonic, just so you know.

It is quite difficult to describe, I tell you. You can find bits that are more traditional, bits that are more raw, bits that are more melodic, keyboards in the right place and time.

Repetition that is right enough for the guitar riffs to get stuck in your head ad aeternum, and I mean this in a good way. 

I haven't mentioned the vocals yet. Well. Don't expect the usual high pitched ones, you won't find that here. In fact, nothing is too traditionally high pitched in Among the Graves of the Archetypes. The voice is actually quite dragged and low, grave, deep, angry, fits perfectly.

And the solos. I've said before, in different reviews, that not many bands can pull interesting and vibrating solos in Black Metal music. Deathlike Dawn can. So there's that too.

So, if this is your cup of tea, you can actually stream the album (and purchase it too, of course), in bandcamp, right here:

https://deathlikedawn.bandcamp.com/album/among-the-graves-of-the-archetypes

Enjoy!

News: Vltimas release third single from upcoming album "Epic"

Black Metal band Vltimas released a few days ago the third single from their upcoming album Epic.

The song is called Invictus, and you can stream it here:

The album Epic is scheduled of be released on the 15th of March, through Season of Mist, and you can pre order it here:

https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/vltimas-epic

Or, you can pre save it here:

https://orcd.co/vltimasepic?mc_cid=bde3a20eaf&mc_eid=609cc73cec

Also, to celebrate and promote Epic, Vltimas will be on tour through Europe in March, as you can see below.

Tracklist:

1. Volens Discordant (1:02)

2. EPIC (4:35)

3. Miserere (3:51)

4. Exercitus Irae (4:01)

5. Mephisto Manifesto (05:05)

6. Scorcher (03:21)

7. Invictus (5:30)

8. Nature's Fangs (3:52)

9. Spoils of War (5:54)

Photo by © Jolanda Siemonsa

Read more on:

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vltimas/1445457453

Bandcamp: https://vltimas.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vltimas/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vltimas/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kz64zyv2xtkdhboztpdwa

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vltimas?lang=en

News: Panopticon to go on European tour to celebrate 10 years of the album "Roads to the North"

Black/Folk Metal band Panopticon will embark in a mini European tour, with special guests Falls of Rauros.

Roads Further North tour comes as the result of a collaboration between Nordvis Produktion, Doomstar Bookings and Bindrune Recordings.

You may find the dates below:

• May 29: Kollektivet Livet, Stockholm (SE)

• May 30: Hulen, Bergen (NO)

• May 31: Parkteatret, Oslo (NO)

• June 1: Fortress Fest, Scarborough (UK)

You can get your tickets here:

https://linktr.ee/truepanopticon

Read more on:

Panopticon:

Web (EU): https://www.nordvis.com/panopticon

Web (US): https://shop.bindrunerecordings.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTruePanopticon

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetruepanopticon/

 

Falls of Rauros:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fallsofraurosOfficial/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fallsofrauros.official/

News: Nastergal release video for song "Brothers in War" from upcoming album

Nastergal are releasing a new album called The Untold War next month, through Wormholedeath Records.

They just released a lyric video for the song Brothers in War from the same, and you can watch it here:

Read more on:

www.facebook.com/Nastergal

www.instagram.com/nastergal_metal

Review: Ischemic's upcoming album "Condemned to the Breaking Wheel"

Ischemic are a Blackened Death Doom band from Canada, and I wouldn't be able to find a better description for the music they play. Although I don't really like to label Black Metal music styles, here in this case it's very appropriate, because that is exactly the music they do. No more, no less. Very good though.

Condemned to the Breaking Wheel is their third full-length, and it will be released on the 5th of April.

What can you expect of this album? Well, Condemned to the Breaking Wheel has four tracks, all of them extremely grave, bassy and heavy. Besides the songs being melodic and very musical, they are performed with excellence and the vocals are extraordinary. Those gutural are just so deep and cavernous. It's two different vocals. The quality of the production is also very high, and although I usually prefer a bit more rough and raw productions, I have to confess this album is brutal. I seriously liked it a lot.

Ischemic is another band I haven't heard about before, so I wasn't sure what I was about to get into. I'm very pleasantly surprised.

I admit the Death Metal influences and elements are the predominant ones on their music. And as much as Death Metal isn't very much my cup of tea, I loved the blend. Also the Doom bits are so emotional, especially on the second track Tomb Fog. And then there are the twists. When you are getting emotional and completely taken by those sad and nearly depressive vibes, it turns into proper Black Metal in a very surprising and unexpected way. 

Ischemic make a big difference on this style of music. Their music is bloody good and brings some fresh air to the industry.

My favourite track might be the third one Rust and Bones. Can't describe why, it's just so good.

So, if you are into this kind of highly Death Metal influenced Black Metal music, with some touch of Doom here and there, strong and profound vocals, you'll love Condemned to the Breaking Wheel.