Utopia Platafórmica

  Hjaal “Bastion of Fear” (Independent/Unsigned, 2023) If there was ever a historical era that enchanted me, medieval times was the one. As a kid I started cultivating this love for all things medieval, be it castles, tales and legends, historical events. Overall, a love for everything medieval related. When I discovered Black Metal, I discovered that the genre was closely related to those dark ages, and that music “painted” a portrait of medieval battles and knights, and that was enough to leave me wanting more. Still to this day, whenever I read a mention to medieval sound and inspiration, on a review, I have to immediately check it to confirm that that ambiance is there. Hjaal is one of those examples. A duo, one from Colombia, the other from England, show that Art has no boundaries and stops for nothing. Amazing! The music. Quality Black Metal, no doubt. I just love the melodies and those small details that provide the tunes with this extra power and energy. This is epic,...

  KING “Fury and Death” (Soulseller Records, 2023) 2023 has been a great year, in my opinion, for Black Metal with clean production and grandiose sound. Bands are not afraid to lay down tremendous melodic lines of empowered Black and Death Metal with these massive guitar riff to go along with! It reminds me, in a way, of how some of 90ies Black Metal was: melodic, powerful, spectacular. There was no need to make yourself sound “bad” and “dirty”, melody was a must and the listeners enjoyed that, and although the true origins of the genre rest in “dirt and viscera”, there was always this “cleaner”, and almost artistic side to it. King is an Aussie quartet with years of experience, and that is heard, especially and in my opinion, in how they mash the Death Metal elements with the Black Metal ones. One quickly thinks of Dissection when asked to name a band that fits the formula, and that is completely correct, but… I find it hard to actually meet that balance. I am hard to please...

  Salacious Gods “Oalevlukk” (Hammerheart Records, 2023) For a while now I have drifted away, to a certain point, from the raw and visceral Black Metal I was used to. Those recordings full of dust and mold, buried in ancient tombs. Well, you get it. Haunting and claustrophobic melodies and atmospheres were a must, and mandatory for me to even accept it as real Black Metal. Absurd, I know. Truth is, I have been looking, more and more, for recordings that still hold that flame alive, but of more immediate absorption. Explaining: take a band like Black Cilice. This is an entity – more than just a Black Metal project – that lives off of your darkest emotions, it is not for everyone, and will never be of easy and immediate absorption and understanding, period. No need for further justifications, for I believe some Black Metal fans will understand my words and never take it as an insult. I do live quite well between these two sonic realities (Raw Black Metal and Black Metal, and yes,...

  Sorathian Dawn “Radiant Terror” (Independent/Unsigned, 2023) 2023 has been a very atypical year for me in terms of the Black Metal sound I have been leaning to. Whereas I would prefer a harsher, rawer, more dissonant sound, the current year has been very rich in well-produced Black Metal, more melodic, and less “violent”, and I have been sort of tired of the Raw Black Metal scene. And in all honesty, I did start off my journey in Black Metal with a much cleaner and melodic sound, so it is not strange in any way if I feel at home with this sound. The thing is: most of the times I feel that overly sterile, and clean Black Metal, has no essence, no spirit, no “blood and guts”, when the production makes it so clean that it loses it all. Of course, this is complete rubbish, and I should know better, but… hence enters Sorathian Dawn. The Aussie duo came in blasting and won me over quite easily. The band has been around for 14 years, and this is only their 3 rd release after a fu...

  Decayed / Velório “The Devil Made Us Do It” (Nekrogoat Heresy Productions, 2023) One thing is certain: no one can stop J.A. and his Black Metal machine, Decayed, and we, the fans, thank him for that. In all honesty, it is clear that his sound is no longer the same from when Decayed first started, and then they went through a more Black n’ Roll phase – which was not their best moment, in my opinion – but it seems they went back to a more Black Metal sound, and they sound pretty good. Maybe Vulturius had something to do with this shift in sound. Nonetheless, great to have them back. On the opposite side we have another Portuguese Black Metal project/band/artist: Velório. Velório had been asleep since 2012, since the release of its first Split with IRAE, and 2023 sees a comeback… and with Decayed. So, what we have in front of us is a superb example of how good the Portuguese Black Metal scene is, although people tend to prefer some specific projects/bands/artists, mostly due to ...

  Still Raging Against the Machine “It is important for me, as a popular artist, to make clear to the governments of the United States and Mexico that despite the strategy of fear and intimidation to foreigners, despite their weapons, despite their immigration laws and military reserves, they will never be able to isolate the Zapatista communities from the people in the United States... Through concerts, videos, interviews, broadcasting of information at concerts, and our songs' lyrics we have placed within reach of young people, our audience, the experiences of the Zapatistas; we act as facilitators of the ways in which they can participate and put them in contact with the organization and the Zapatista support committees in the United States” ("Interview with Zack from Chiapas" (July 19, 1998), Acción Zapatista de Austin . Retrieved October 6, 2007). Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York City, November 3, 2023. Thomas Baptist Morello stands alone on that stage, that...

  Marthe “Further in Evil” (Southern Lord, 2023) I was completely unaware of the existence of this project, and only today stumbled upon it while scrolling on a very famous Black Metal group on Facebook. While reading the description of a photo, I saw The Devil’s Blood and Mediterranean Heavy Metal influences mentioned, as well as Antifascism and Italy. Scrolled down a bit more and read Bathory. Went straight to YouTube and added Tiamat, “Clouds” era (vocals at times), to it. It might sound a bit strange and misplaced, but let me tell you: it bloody works. Marthe is composed of one single musician, Marziona Silvani – stage/artist name, Marzia – and she has been around for some time. From what I understood, Marthe started out while Marzia was still rocking the drums in Ancient Cult, an Italian Heavy Doom band that since then closed the doors on existence. That gave way for Marzia to move forward and blast it all out with Marthe! Marthe is a very curious entity. Sound-wise, i...

  Raiva Rosa Coisas e Palavras e Cenas 9 de Novembro de 2023 Bom dia. As minhas desculpas pela demora em publicar esta review/análise às perguntas colocadas/conversa/amena cavaqueira no tasco/whatever (riscar o que desejarem, sff), mas a Vida e o Tempo são lixados, e como considero que ficou um pouco aquém do que queria extrair do pessoal, fiquei de pé atrás se deveria, ou não, levar isto a público (aquelas 2 pessoas que ainda leem as minhas coisinhas). Estou a começar isto pelo fim, e esta porra soa quase a conclusão, mas sinto essa necessidade de me desculpar, de certa forma, pelo que de seguida vem. Não considero que as minhas palavras espelham as pessoas por trás da música da forma correcta. Perderam-se as palavras mais ásperas dirigidas a realidades que não nos são atingíveis, que nos fogem porque não pertencemos a esse círculo, não somos o Daniel A, mas sim o Daniel B, e dessa forma não há aquela “ajuda”. Well, que mais escapou? A honestidade que escorre de uma pessoa p...

  Pyrgosia “Times Forgotten” (Independent, 2023) And now we head off to Pittsfield, New Hampshire, United States of America, for a new blast of Black Metal, this time by Pyrgosia and their majestic Black Metal. Pyrgosia started out in 2023, so a very recent band; Hiraeth (Cerulean Dawn) and Gravelurker have composed this 5-song EP based on Hellenic traditions and legends.  Pyrgosia plays Black Metal, a powerful specimen of the genre. Melodic riffs that fuse with strength and fury! Throughout these 5-tracks we are guided by the duo through a battlefield, battling all sorts of enemies, and dangers. The band’s music captures those moments and urges you to react! Strange it may sound, but sense it makes. The drumming is quite something: fast, yet melodic; not that violent and ultra-fast style of drumming. The guitar lays forth some cutting riffs, that solidify the band’s sound quite easily. Then… melodic riffs, the melodic riffs are a must. I truly feel this is one of the be...

  Black Grail “Misticismo Regresivo” (Uncreation Records / Final Agony Records / Virupi) Originally released in 2015 by Uncreation Records (CD) and Final Agony Records (Vinyl), Virúpi now presents Black Grail’s debut album on Tape, for the first time. The moment I first saw the band I was immediately directed to a band like Mortuary Drape. At first, I thought the comparisons would be only with the aesthetic side of the band, but once I pressed PLAY, I realized it was a bit more than just that, and all that ritualistic side of the Italian legends is present, and it provides a structure for the music. Black Grail is a band from Santiago, Chile, and like many Black Metal bands from this part of the World, their work revolves around mysticism and a very prominent ritualistic existence. South American bands have always taken their Black Metal very seriously… and we like it. “Misticismo Regresivo” is a very, very interesting Black Metal album. As mentioned above, the ritualistic ...