Utopia Platafórmica

Montclair “Two Song Promo” (Ephyra, 2023) & “The Stars Will Look Down Upon Us” (Ephyra, 2022) & “Life in an Afterthought” (2021) Montclair released, February 21st, 2023, a 2-song promo… and it sounds like sweet, which is awesome! After checking Holy Figures and Feels Like Heaven, let us jump into more Emotional Hardcore. The Sun is out, Spring is here… season of delusions is upon us, right? Can I say that this Emo Hardcore thing, is a thing right now? I see more, and more bands going for this sound. Hey, not complaining! If it is good, give it to me! As the name says, we have 2 new songs from the guys from Connecticut. Those really emotional choruses where the vocalist drops down to his knees and sings like his life was ending. Well, maybe not like that, but you get the idea. The first song is a hard one, no doubt! Melodic and truly emotional. The riffs, the whole groove… but it also has a temper. It blows up, it slaps you, it assaults you and steals your heart. It is emo...

Sermon - Doomish Words Thank you very much for the opportunity. Before we jump to the new record, may I please ask you to give us an insight into this adventure initiated back in the 90ies. How was the Turkish scene back then? In the 90s, everything was too wonderful to be described in words. It is really sad that with the change of time, we will never be able to return to those days again. It was a time when Heavy metal was making a splash in Turkey. Of course, we were dangerous types in society at that time. We were getting reactions from the media and the public because we were extreme types. There were no good venues for the bands to play and the bands were organizing concerts with their own facilities. But no reactions and inhibitions could keep us from our passion for this music. Our ambition and commitment to this music have made us resistant to reactions and obstacles. These were difficult days, it was not easy to overcome them, because those who had a passion for this musi...

Infinity “The Untamed Hunger” (Immortal Frost Productions, 2023) Immortal Frost Productions is quickly becoming one of my go-to labels. In a world where Black Metal has become - once again - Raw and Visceral, and plenty of times established on an awful production, it is quite relaxing to centre your ideas and focus your mind on a better produced Black Metal, rich in classic melodies and delicate “tapestries”. So please check Surtur’s work. Nevertheless, I am here today to talk about a specific release: “The Untamed Hunger”, by Dutch duo, Draconis and Balgradon Xul. Ever since I received their promo, I have been playing this a lot. It does, yes, sound like many Swedish Old School Black Metal bands, but I need to point out that these lads have been around, as Infinity, since 1995, so the Old School sound is their sound. Dissection, Dawn, Necrophobic, etc., plenty of quality bands, no doubt about it, and Infinity’s Black Metal follows the same line the Swedish have paved. As menti...

Sermon “Till Birth Do Us Part” (Bitume, 2023)   Sermon is a Turkish Death Doom band formed back in 1997. Highly influence by the Death Doom scene of the time, the band’s sound was not affected by the changing of time, nor the waves that followed the British Wave of Doom Metal and “disfigured” the genre. Harsh words, right? They might be, however… this vein of the genre is a very specific, and particular one. When we think of Doom, we think of Black Sabbath, and those that do not, are unaware of what the genre is about. Obviously, the genre grew and spawned a multitude of sub-genres and similar melodic existences. I mentioned the British, and their influence must be accounted for, of course, as they are, in my opinion, the milestone for the Death Doom genre. Bands like Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, and Anathema, very well-known for their work, are still seen as that milestone triad, and their influence is seen to this day. Check out Athanasy, from Portugal, and be delighted by ...

Black Metal Releases Appreciation Post Tsjuder "Helvegr" (Season of Mist, 2023) Tsjuder Official Bandcamp Sworn "A Journey Told Through Fire" (2023) Sworn Official Bandcamp Servant "Aetas Ascensus" (MDD Records, 2023) Utgardar "Fire Smoke Upon the Wolf's Back" (2023) Véreux “À l'Aube d'un Grand D​é​rangement” (Vereux, 2023) Vereux Official Bandcamp