Ivan Tibos.

Harlowe are a Belgian project that includes some well-known names from the (Belgian) scene: Colin H.

French outfit Griffon, nowadays with current and former members of e.g. Moonreich, Neptrecus, Septentrion etc..., signed to the honest (Underground) label Hass Weg Productions in order to have their debut released the most decent way. In 2014 the band did also record and release an EP (crazily called Wig Ah Wag), but I did not have the opportunity (yet) to enjoy that material.

Our Lowlands have always been quite underestimated within the Black Metal scene, and actually it isn’t that strange, seen the glorious quality of so many acts from all over the world. Once in a while, a band from Belgium or Holland sort of ‘breaks through’, reaching an audience outside our artificial borders. Unfortunately, so many bands from our countries remains too ‘low’. Will The Shiva Hypothesis prove the opposite?

And Nothing Shalt Remain is an ‘older’ split-release on French (top) label Hass Weg Productions, done by Greek duo SAD (absolutely quite a productive outfit from Athens since, in mean time, more than a decade, and they have been on the Hass Weg Productions roster before) and French act Mourning Forest, who are totally less productive than their Greek colleagues.

Pensées Nocturnes did release a new album in earlier 2016, this time not via long-time label Les Acteurs De L’Ombre Productions (or sub-label Emanations?), but independently. Therefor I had been kindly asked to write down my nocturnal thoughts on Nom D’Une Pipe!, the third full length by this unusual one-man project. Pensées Nocturnes were formed in 2008 by Vaerohn, who joined Way To End a couple of years ago.

Sometimes it’s quite strange, but more than once I seem to receive material that is not really my ‘dada’. It is not a problem, for I try to be open-minded, and if the band or label deserves some additional promotion, I am always glad to be of help.

A while ago I came along Satanismo Calibro 9 via one or another (lugubrious) site, and I was truly impressed by the whole atmosphere. More recently I came in touch with Frater Rudolf from Old Europa Cafe, and one of the releases I bought / received was one for that Italian act.

Anthropophobe are one of the outfits by KFD aka Vordak, who’s in the mighty project Pagan Assault too (enter the band’s name in the ‘search’-tab to find some of the reviews I did for them). On January 12^th 2016 I did upload a review for the Extinct Species EP, which he did release under the K.F.D.-moniker, and he’s the guy who runs Soleil Blanc Productions and Germanordic Recordings (cf. that K.F.D.-release) as well.

Locust Amber Records focus on tape releases especially, but there are some vinyl releases too that the audience gets offered by this label. All together: thank you! Also parent label Legs Akimbo and sister-label Skullhouse release quite some stuff on vinyl. Some have been reviewed recently, some others are to follow in a very near future. Just enter the label’s name(s) in the ‘search’-tab and you’ll find out…

I guess Reutoff are one of the most influential Industrial / Ambient acts from Russia, known for an unconventional yet quite impressive elegance. So I do not think it’s a wonder that this project deserves a tribute album, which includes some of the major acts that dwell around the Drone / Post-Industrial / Dark Ambient / Neo-Folk scenes lately. Ere wie ere toekomt! (something like ‘honour to whom deserves honour’).