Review: Agvirre's upcoming album "_ _ _ _ _ _"

Manchester post Black Metal band Agvirre will be releasing a new album on the 28th of January. 

Lachryma Christi had reviewed their EP Silence in 2020, and this album _ _ _ _ _ _ (pronounced as "Hidden") is somewhat different.

There is still the mental struggle in this release, but not as noticeable as on Silence, in my opinion. Silence was about mental illness, how it is experienced and felt, while _ _ _ _ _ _ is about how the mental illness manifests and feels in a more social and every day life context. How it feels with all the general society problems that we sometimes face. With pandemics and all the confinements the whole world has been through, as well as all the divisions that all this situation brought us, for sure many people will relate to this album. 

However, I found less struggle and more beauty in this album, than I did in Silence. I feel more the "everything will be alright in the end", than I actually feel the anxiety and difficult situation, when I listen to this album. And I think that is a good thing too.

What can you expect in terms of music? Well, _ _ _ _ _ _ has three tracks, and my favourite might actually be the first one, Urtica in Glass. It starts with conversation / conflict, passing to the more calm shoegaze kind of music (I am sorry, I hate this word "shoegaze", but had to use it, because that's what it is), and when you think the whole song will be like this, it suddenly turns into a very unexpected melodic and also aggressive Black Metal. I was quite surprised at this, and also pleased at the whole thing. I still am, after listening to it a few times. Each time brings me that same exact feeling of "how great is this?".

Second track is more quiet, shorter, and funnily enough, maybe it is the one that brings the sense of confusion and anxiety up more clearly. 

Third track is as furious and angry and dragged as the first one. As full of thought and feel.

It all sounds so very well coordinated and performed, and you may expect some instrument I believe it is trumpet. Do you remember when Necromantia came up with saxophone, many years ago? I had exactly the same feeling when I heard the trumpet in Agvirre. A completely "wow" feeling. It is really a good mix, sounds really good with the fast and angry music and desperate voice. The voice is something. So raw and sad and full of pain. 

The whole album is fantastic. _ _ _ _ _ _  is very introspective, emotional, sad at times, angry most of the times, and like a cry for help in many other times. 

It is beautiful. Indeed. 

And look at that cover art! How beautiful. It is by Dafydd Jones at Back Down Design. 

I don't usually mention these details, but since I started, let me finish:

_ _ _ _ _ _ was recorded, engineered and mixed by Joe Clayton at No Studio, Manchester.

Mastered by Magnus Lindberg at VRTKL Audio.

Brass arranged and performed by The River Versus

Tracklist for _ _ _ _ _ _:

1. Urtica In Glass (10:03)

2. _ _ _ _ _ _ (In Plain Sight) (3:39)

3. For El Dorado, Whenever I May Find You (9:01)

Lineup for Agvirre:

Badger - Drums and percussion
Dave - Bass
Frenchie - Vocals, synths, electronics and percussion

Ricardo - Guitar and backing vocals
Aaron, Alec and Jimmy (The River Versus) - Trumpets

Read more about Agvirre in:

https://www.facebook.com/agvirrewrath

https://agvirre.bandcamp.com/

News: Darkspace sign to Season of Mist

Swiss Black Metal band Darkspace just signed a deal with Season of Mist. 

The band will be re-releasing their entire back catalogue with reinterpretated artwork and a remaster for vinyl via Season of Mist later this year.

They are also working on their Dark Space III II.

Lineup:

Wroth - Guitars, vocals
Zhaaral - Guitars, vocals

Read more in:

www.darkcyberspace.com
darkspace.bandcamp.com

Review: Bat Magic's upcoming EP "Feast of Blood"

Greetings!

First of all, to those who actually celebrate(d) it, Happy 2022!

So let's start with a review to a very very very good EP that just got in my inbox. On the 4th of February, Vampyric Black Metal band from USA, Bat Magic, will be releasing their EP Feast of Blood. In fact, this is a reissue of their cassete, which was originally recorded in 2016. It will now be released through Babylon Doom Cult Records.

Feast of Blood has four tracks and I have heard the EP three times before writing this review (I am still listening to it), as I am a bit out of words about it. It is so good.

The Intro takes you to a complete different place, somewhere European, it is nearly "romantic" (it makes sense, believe me), and with a very very vampyric touch to it. 

And when you feel you are in a great atmosphere, comes the first track Blood Pact of Ordo Vampyr, thirsty, furious, fantastic, heavy, old school Black Metal. Not quite Black'n'Roll, but almost. It is really very good. 

The whole EP is in this same line, but each song is more surprising than the previous one, however making it a whole. 

But the song that for me is the best in this EP is the last one, Solis Corpis. A very good, bassy, fast, inspiring, solid, Black Metal song. Has some more slow bit towards the end, with a very emotional solo that will bring you goose bumps. So bloody good. Such a strong track.

These guys know what they do, so well. 

Don't expect the kind of somewhat "traditional" high pitched voice, because it doesn't exist here, but the dragged guttural voice you can hear matches only perfectly. Keyboards are on point, bringing the perfect feel.

The whole EP is very melodic, not raw but extremely powerful. Emotional, angry, aggressive and very very exciting. It is perfect and going straight to the best releases of 2022 for Lachryma Christi. The quality of the music and of the sound are indescribable. I am just so happy that this came through my inbox, and I am sure you will love it just as much as I do.

Lineup:

Vespertine Screech – Echolocatory Incantations
The Haunted Strigoi of Night – 6-Garroted Hell-Axe
The Ghastly Vrykolak – Possessed Cithern
He Who Drinks the Blood of Sleeping Babies – Ivory Merchant and Dealer
The Mighty Winged Necromancer – Cave Rumblings
The Impaler – Twin Stakes

Read more in:

https://www.babylondoomcultrecords.com/

https://ordovampyrorientis.com/

Review: Sisters Memon's self titled debut album

This review is long overdue, since the album came out last month; but honestly, I have been extremely busy with my full time job, and for this reason I haven't had much time to dedicate to Lachryma Christi. I always come back, eventually. Just some times take longer than others.

This album was sent to me by M. Daniels, the person who writes all the music in Sisters Memon. I was also sent their second album, scheduled to be released in early 2022 (hopefully I will be able to review it soon, but can't guarantee yet). 

It is actually a shame that it took me so long to listen to this masterpiece. 

So Sisters Memon are a very recently formed band from Poland. Well, in fact, M. Daniels is from London and lives in London. 

They play a very neat old school Black Metal. Very raw, angry and obscure. I confess I love it.

Natalia, the singer for Sisters Memon, is just perfect. The first time I heard her voice, I was incredibly positively surprised and loved it immediately.

Only two members, but an absolute majestic album. It is really great.

The self titled and debut album of Sisters Memon has 11 tracks, all of them very into the same style. Don't expect a ballad in the middle, or a catchy refrain, because that won't be there. It wouldn't even make sense. However, after you listen to the album once, you want to listen to it again. It becomes familiar instantly, and you just want to feel again the comfort it brings. It is like going back home, after a long journey.

So if you are wanting to listen to some old school and at the same time original sound (i know), if you really are after strong and powerful and heavy Black Metal, don't hesitate listening to Sisters Memon. This album came out by the end of September already, so it's out there. In case you are wondering, it was released on Plague Demon / Blasphemous Creations of Hell Records.

I am sure you won't regret. Same way I didn't regret taking so long but still doing it, because it is so good.

It is really very difficult to compose a top ten albums for 2021. This has been quite a good year in terms of quality, for Black Metal music.

Old video, but good music: Barzakh's song "Shadow in the Grief"

Black Metal band from Indonesia Barzakh contacted me on Instagram recently (in case you don't know, Lachryma Christi's has now an Instagram account, which is @lachryma_christi_black_metal), and sent two songs for promotion.

I confess I didn't know this band, but I am very thankful that they contacted me, as their music is really good.

They have been around since 1998 (and it shows); and they have quite a few releases, from a demo, to participations in compilations, and to three albums. The last album, Shadow in the Grief, was released in 2019, and what I'm sharing here today, is precisely the track with the same title, which you can listen here:

This song had been featured on the album In a Meaning the Note.

Read more in: 

https://www.facebook.com/BARZAKH-Black-Metal-Jakarta-129349202409

Review: LYKHAEON's new album "Opprobrium"

Black Metal band from Switzerland LYKHAEON, just released (on the 21st) their second full-length, called Opprobrium.
This album was sent to me for review a couple of months ago, but only now I managed to go through it. I only regret I didn't do it earlier, as it is quite good.

As you know, LYKHAEON play a sound we can cathegorize as Death/Black Metal, and their music is mostly about Greek Mythology.

It is very interesting, as they are not Greek, but bring up similarities to Greek bands as Septicflesh.

Opprobrium has seven tracks, all of them very heavy and some of them very dragged, almost doomy. In fact, with huge doomy influence.

2021 has been a good year with original and unique sounds in the black metal industry, as I stated in the previous review shared also today. And LYKHAEON's Opprobrium is no exception. They can have influences and resemblances, but they are also very original in what they do. Their music brings us a great ammount of introspection, anger and fury, my favourite song being Descent Into Ruinous Splendor. The clean voices mixed with the gutural ones at the end of this track are just something. Almost magical.

LYKHAEON are a Duo, but what a sound they make. They had a session drummer on the recording of Opprobrium. 

It is fantastic. If you haven't heard it yet, go for it. You won't be disappointed.

Review: Gospelheim's upcoming single "Into Smithereens"

Greetings, fellow readers!
Things have been a bit slow around here, as you might have noticed, but I have a ton of work on my actual job, so haven't had as much time, but eventually, I will!

However, I am not here to write about me (just thought you should know what's going on), but about Gospelheim and their new single, Into Smithereens, which is scheduled to be released on the 30th of July.

Gospelheim are a new band from Manchester, which include members from Impavidus, Frozen In Shadows, Agvirre, and others. Lachryma Christi has worked with Agvirre in the past.

Before we continue, let me tell you this single Into Smithereens is the first single to be released from their upcoming debut album, coming out in the new year.

So, what can you expect from this single? It is a mix of gothic rock, classic heavy metal and black metal.

I liked it very much. It is a breeze of fresh air. Different, heavy, catchy, melodic, and with beautifully sung clean and clear voices, male and female.

The song is quite original, and at the same time brings you that comfortable feeling that only a good song or album can do.

I heard it once, then I had to hear it again, and again, not sure how many times I heard the song in a loop. Hopefully, it will work just like that for you too.

2021 has been a very good year, in what comes to the black metal (and related) style. Gospelheim have black metal influences more instrumentally. It is a very good song, that will stay in your head for a long time, and although the band is newly formed, you can tell musicians are very talented and know what they are doing and where they want to go. Their sound is unique, very sober and consistent.

It is very pleasing to listen to. I felt quite pleased, and I am sure many of you will too.

To mention some influences I found here: My Dying Bride, Therapy (from early 2000s) - strange, but yes!, and I would risk to mention a bit of Moonspell. Intrigued? You can listen to Into Smithereens on the 30th. I will be sharing a link for sure.

You may also expect a review of the full album, when the time comes.

(and look at that logo!)