For the first time in their discography so far, Sacred Son make a significant stylistic change of heart when deciding for an album cover ar...
Sacred Son - The Foul Deth of Engelond (2022)
It has happened that I have turned off a Primitive Man record, especially their early material, just because of how empty and long the comp...
Primitive Man - Insurmountable EP (2022)
Nechochwen definitely take their time creating new material and their discography might be short but very efficient, as they have had a rat...
Nechochwen - Kanawha Black (2022)
Nechochwen definitely take their time creating new material and their discography might be short but very efficient, as they have had a rather splendid series of full length albums since their debut, Algonkian Mythos in 2008, especially their latest work, 2015’s Heart of Akamon. I was also impressed by their side on the split with Panopticon in 2020, which made me re-run the band’s earlier records while waiting for their next chapter. Kanawha Black now arrives seven years after its predecessor, and not only doesn’t disappoint, but has some of the most well-worked Nechochwen have put together in the project’s lifetime.
Once started as a pure neofolk / acoustic band, such elements still resonate very strongly in Nechochwen’s music. The record has plenty of melodic, almost purely acoustic chunks with enjoyable clean vocals, which are sometimes used exclusively (for example, in “The Murky Deep” and “I Can Die But Once”) but also as parts of longer compositions. The production glorifies the band’s earthy sound and emphasizes the variety of melodies Nechochwen employ, in a record that is by no means down lifting but rather epic and of great conceptual concept. Apart from the slightly more surprising short piece “A Cure for the Winter Plagues”, which has the pattern and deep growls of a funeral doom metal track, most tempos in Kanawha Black are middle / fast paced and its flow is impeccable.
When the tracks get more direct and closer to clear black metal, there is always a set of dominating, blistering guitars that completely lay on folk / atmospheric black directions, yet don’t imagine the use of extra instruments to achieve an atmosphere. Shrieked vocals are awesome and the song structures are especially appealing, as it is demonstrated in “Visions, Dreams and Signs” or the opening, self-titled. The last part of Kanawha Black features another set of two amazing pieces, “Generations of War” and “Across the Divide”, which include all the fine tools of the band’s arsenal combined together in a quite successful way. I would personally prefer more screaming than singing especially in the distorted guitar parts, yet that is only personal, it doesn't really take any merit from the final work away.
It has been proven before that Nechochwen a really powerful band and their newest work is surely compelling at all levels. Not the average folk black project, full of interesting ideas and intense compositions with great riffs and some soloing only when needed, and not as a means of making an impression of skill. Kanawha Black is, as their previous works, strongly connected to nature and would make great company for a short hike out in the woods.
Four years and some turbulence since Trident Wolf Eclipse , the most commercially successful black metal band of our time returns with a new...
Watain - The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain (2022)
This Finnish band's acute sting is no wonder when taking into account its members, who are also active in projects like Lie In Ruins , P...
Corpsessed - Succumb to Rot (2022)
Band: Suppression Country: Chile Album: The Sorrow of Soul Through Flesh Label: Unspeakable Axe Records Website: Facebook What needs t...
Suppression - The Sorrow of Soul Through Flesh (2022)
Band: E-L-R Country: Switzerland Album: Vexier Label: Prophecy Productions Website: Facebook The second full length by Swiss doom / ps...
E-L-R - Vexier (2022)
Band: Deathspell Omega Country: France Album: The Long Defeat Label: Norma Evangelium Diaboli Website: Bandcamp Yes. Release date...
Hello there, all the best from Arson Cafe. Feel free to give a short introduction of Boarhammer and the motives behind the band. The Vessel:...
Woodland witchcraft - Interview with Boarhammer
- Hello there, all the best from Arson Cafe. Feel free to give a short introduction of Boarhammer and the motives behind the band.
- I discern a strong old school influence in your music, back from the days of the first wave of black metal.What are your musical influences?
- One of the themes you're revolving around seems to be the "strangeness of liquids and herbs". Could you elaborate on the interest in this topic?
- Congratulations on your first demo "I: Cutting Wood for Magickal Purposes". Was it a completely DIY process, including the physical copies?
- Having the notation "I" in it, one would suspect there will be a continuation of the demo. Is it a series of releases with the same concept or story, and are you working on new material now?
- Quite an interesting band name as well. How did that come around?
- Who did the cover art of the demo, or is it partially a photograph?
- I might be wrong, but there are hints of neatly used, vile humor in your debut demo. What is your attitude towards this music?
- Several of your tracks have interesting turns and samples (e.g "Tantra Wolves", "Ritual Tusks", "Spirits on Black Wings"). What is the process of composing and recording for Boarhammer?
- What are bands that you would like to collaborate with in the future?
- Thanks for your time. The ending is yours!
Find Boarhammer on Bandcamp
Band: Blood Incantation Country: USA Album: Timewave Zero EP Label: Century Media Records Website: Facebook When Blood Incantation ann...
Blood Incantation - Timewave Zero EP (2022)
Band: Ultra Silvam Country: Sweden Album: The Sanctity of Death Label: Regain Records Website: Facebook The way I found out about this ...
Ultra Silvam - The Sanctity of Death (2022)
The way I found out about this new band, since I had completely missed their debut album The Spearwound Salvation when it was released in 2019, was through an interview with Misþyrming frontman D.G., where he highly praised them. At the same time, they are touring together now and also at that time, which was when I realised that I should be checking more closely all the bands the Icelandic giants tour with, as they are probably aligned with my tastes perfectly. The same way, I discovered the exceptional Ardens Fvror by Vortex of End, another gem of 2019.
Right from their first demo Nadir in 2020, Kato showed signs of a unique presence in the underground scene. The signs become reality with ...
Lucidity in ash - Interview with Kato
- Welcome to Arson Cafe, go ahead and share a short introduction of Kato.
- "Kato Kosmos" means the underworld in Greek. What led you to pick such a name?
- Already from the first demo, Kato's production is quite professional. Do you self-produce your material?
- "Conflagration" can be considered the first main release of the band. First of all, what does the artwork represent?
- The EP has several interesting twists and turns, what is the concept behind it?
- I could listen to slight elements of more dissonant black metal, but also tremolo picking similar to the modern Norwegian scene. What are some of Kato's musical influences?
- Great melodic passages, especially in "Within". What is the creative process for your project, and how do you decide what fits to be put together?
- The lyrics bring a bit of Ulcerate in mind, showcasing fair amounts of desperation and hopelessness. Where do you draw inspiration for writing them?
- To whom is the last line of the third track, going "Your Essence", referring to?
- Is Conflagration a result of constant work since the 2020 demo? Are you also working on the next material of the project?
- What would be the take-home message the listener should take after a few listening sessions of the EP?
- Thanks for your time and efforts, I'm leaving the closing remarks to you.
Band: Venom Prison Country: United Kingdom Album: Erebos Label: Century Media Records Website: Instagram Another act that made its pres...
Venom Prison - Erebos (2022)
Band: Darvaza Country: Italy / Norway Album: Ascending Into Perdition Label: Terratur Possessions Website: Facebook This release has be...
Darvaza - Ascending Into Perdition (2022)
This release has been highly anticipated. I have waited and hanged on for a full length release from this project for half a decade now, especially after getting more and more into their first three EPs. And the fact that they made such a mark with them from the very beginning shows what kind of band we are talking about, one that had laid the groundwork for a debut way after it was established in the scene, creating this feeling of desire to the fans, including me. Every time I went back to The Silver Chalice or The Downward Descent, I would think "but really, where is the full length from these guys?" and keep waiting.
Band: Owls Woods Graves Country: Poland Album: Secret Spies of the Horned Patrician Label: Malignant Voices Website: Facebook Punk an...
Owls Woods Graves - Secret Spies of the Horned Patrician (2022)
Country: Poland
Album: Secret Spies of the Horned Patrician
Label: Malignant Voices
Website: Facebook