CD

Zephyra are a Swedish act that released two EP’s in the past, if I’m not mistaken (First Blood and Kämpaglöd, in 2012 and 2013 respectively).

René Thomsen is not only the leader of this band, but also the guitarist and composer.  This CD ‘Unbroken’ marks his second release, after their 2009 debut album ‘Let’s Get Ruthless’.  Most of the twelve songs on this album were composed together with Fair Warning producer and guitarist Helge Engelke.

Italian trio Sterbenzeit (little confusing, for their moniker is German; it means ‘moment of dying’ or ‘time to die’) returns with their sophomore full length, this time on Belgium’s Underground-label Immortal Frost Productions.

Polish one-man army Primal (run by a guy who calls himself PrimalOne; you might remember his name from his collaboration with Iugulatus and Deep Desolation) was formed in 2008, and as from the beginning of this decade, Primal have been pretty productive. With both bands mentioned above there was a split in 2011 (called Chapel Of Fear), and besides a couple of demonstrational recordings, Primal recorded and released several EP’s and full lengths in mean time.

Thuringian act Nocturnal Witch were formed five years ago, but this isn’t but this band’s first full length. After two demos in the early years, Nocturnal Witch released the 7”EP Into Dungeons via Evil Spell Records (a sub-division of Undercover Records), and via the very same label one can now enjoy the debut.

Stelle Senza Luce (which means something like ‘stars without light’) was the first full length by Italian trio (now a duo) Movimento D’Avanguardia Ermetico; there was a second full length in 2012 via the Italian label The Oath, as well as a couple of splits.

That’s one of the things I do like about Belgian label Immortal Frost Productions. They do mainly focus on Black Metal in a rather general approach (from melancholic Ambient-laden doomy stuff to thrashing Old School madness, and everything in between), but they do sign bands and projects too that do not perform ‘Black Metal’ in its literal definition, but which atmosphere or spirit is related within the same obscure, grim and bleak regions.

The scene from Belarus is not that ‘huge’ as the ones from neighbours Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia or Ukraine. The Possession-label is a good example for nice material coming from that (contested) country (I would like to refer to the review on Šmiercieslaŭ’s album Cjomny Pryliŭ Razburennja / Ciemrazoŭ, posted on September 2^nd).

Being a ‘fan’ of the Black Metal scene since the end of the eighties, I came along a handful of mostly interesting bands or projects from Malta, a small island in the Mediterranean sea, in between Italy and Africa – think: Martyrium (Draugûl-frontman Vargblod used to be in this great act for a couple of years, by the way), Apotheosis, Sahhar or Sandmist.

When Eyehate, Stiff Old and Goathammer started playing together in 2004 (actually it was in an old bunker), they decided to continue as a ‘real’ band instead of just some time-passing activities. Goathammer, however, was forced to leave, and S. Muerte and Randy Rots joined the duo. At that time, it was time to choose a name. Deathronation were born.