Ivan Tibos.

The band Plague Years (the one from Detroit, Michigan; there seems to be a Deathcore-act with the very same name from Utah too) debuted in 2017 with a self-called EP, independently released via their Bandcamp-page (and different streaming formats). In Autumn 2018 they released their second recording via the very same sources, called Unholy Infestation. Seen the quality of this stuff, Seeing Red Records took the decision to promote this material more intensively, and they decided to put this material on compact disc.

This review deals with an untitled split release in between two excellent projects from Down Under, Illimitable Dolor and Promethean Misery. The material is available via digital sources and on compact disc, which you can order via their Bandcamp pages. The latter comes in an edition of 500 (few hand-numbered) copies.

Hailing from Hertfordshire, North of London in the U.K. (almost a former member of the E.U.) and currently dwelling around in Wiltshire (East of London), Instinct is a productive outfit of one Verst. You might also know this guy from the projects Harrowing Slumber (in a near future, I will write and upload a review for Sleepwalking The Path Of Ea) and Spheric Obscurium, and it’s the same person who runs Ancient Trail Recordings.

Nearly seven months after the fabulous album The Cave Of Metaphysical Darkness & Lights (http://www.concreteweb.be/reviews/moloch-conspiracy), which was released via Italy’s finest Eighth Tower Records, Julien A. Lacroix comes up with the next Moloch Conspiracy album, shortly named Kur. Once again it’s a conceptual recording, dealing with old Mesopotamian mysteries, cults and myths.

Adrien Blosse aka Noctis is a multi-instrumentalist whom you might know from his Black Metal solo-outfits Alkymist, Blosse and Calvaire, or from his activities in Maeskyyrn. He’s also the guy behind Nachteule (‘night owl’), which he started in 2016.

It all started at the end of the Eighties. Henrik Björkk aka Kremator aka Nordvargr decided to start a band that would be an outlet for blasphemous prophecies, yet from a unique sonic spectrum. Maschinenzimmer 412 were born. Under this name, there were two recordings, Macht Durch Stimme and Malfeitor (the latter was released via the (sadly defunct) cult label Cold Meat Industry).

For sure being one of my favourite bands from the Middle-East, From The Vastland actually hail from Iran, although band leader Sina lives in Norway nowadays. The guy started this outfit in 2010 and throughout almost a decade of existence, he wrote and recorded some very nice stuff. From The Vastland debuted in 2011 with Darkness Vs.

Totally new to me, Blurr Thrower seems to be a mysterious one-(wo)man outfit from Paris, France. With the two-tracker Les Avatars Du Vide (‘avatars of the void’), Blurr Thrower did debut last year (in July, more exactly) independently and digitally (cf. their Bandcamp-page).

Nefastu was (actually it must be: ‘is’) a band from Oporto, Portugal, that was modestly active at the beginning of this decade. But with exception of some demonstrational material (there were, I think, only two demo-tapes in 2011 and 2012), the band did not exactly record anything that would put their name on the (worldwide) map. Now, after more than six years of silence, the trio returns with three new tracks, gathered on vinyl, being limited to an edition of 150 copies.

I have to admit that, when it comes to Dungeon Synth Music, I can be extremely aroused, or immensely irritated. Some projects delve deep into mystery and magic spheres, while others just try to create a superficial would-be world of fake phantasies. Dungeon Synth, as it was once created for, needs depth, content and significance. At least, that’s my opinion, but those semi-happy 8-bit oriented projects that are conquering this scene lately do insult the essence of dark-spirited Aural Art.