[INTERVIEW] With UK Black Metal/Noise Duo POISONOUS REFLECTION!

Poisonous Reflection are a Black Metal/Noise duo from the UK. Having released two demos and with a new split release looming, I spoke to T and J to find out more about the band, their noise and their goals!

[REVIEW] OAKENTHRONE - Blood Moon Demo [2022] Self Released

Oakenthrone are a brand new Black Metal project hailing from the UK, and 'Blood Moon' is their brand new debut two track demo.

[INTERVIEW] With US Black Metal/Punk Trio BLACK KNIFE!

 

I recently heard US Black Metal/Punk band BLACK KNIFE for the very first time, and so impressed was I by their rawness and savage tunes, I decided to fire some questions at them. They only went and got back to me straight away, jolly nice of them. Here is what was discussed with guitarist/vocalist Hellwulv.

Greetings to you from the UK. Thanks for taking some time to speak with me. How is life in the US right now?

Life in the U.S.A. is good overall. Very happy to see live music returning after the long break from covid. Lots of shows and tours popping up left and right these days.

I've only recently heard your music, on the new four way split release through Wise Blood Records. How did you come to be a part of the split release?

This split was a pretty natural one in many ways as Black Knife is based in Kentucky and Wraith and Graveripper live only one state away from each other. We had crossed paths many times and became friends through the scene. As for Unholy Night, they are from Russia, but style wise a perfect fit. They have been on my radar for quite some time. I am a big fan of their music and was stoked to include them on this one.

Have you had a chance to listen to much of the other three bands' work? What are your thoughts on the bands you share the release with?

 

I have actually listened to all the bands on the split quite a bit before the release. I am a fan of every band involved. I always enjoy that side of splits and you get to work with bands you are a fan of and solidify a bond of evil music together.

You play Black Metal/Punk and so your sound fits in well with the rest of the split. Who would you say are Black Knife's main musical influences?

We have quite a few, but we always go back to Venom, Celtic Frost, Abigail, Slayer and the like. Not to mention anything weird/sleazy and out of the box.

How about influences from outside of the musical sphere? Do you let real world issues filter into your lyrics? Do you let your views on political climates filter into your music?

I do, but it is usually done in a way that is not so on the nose. I let the listener decide what is fact and what is fantasy or escapism and the lyrical content is generally pretty wild. I try to not get overly political with the lyrical end, but will definitely tell people where I stand if asked. Just has to be the time and place for it.

You have been active since 2016 and since your inception you have been very prolific on the releases front, with a couple of albums out as well as myriad split releases. Where does the inspiration and energy come from to release so much music but at such a high standard?

This band is my outlet and my driving force. Life can't be all work, pay taxes, die. That being said I am always writing and would not know what to do with myself if I didn't have it. So that creates a big output of music, but I am pretty critical on myself to also keep the standards high. So I appreciate you noticing that!

How would you describe the Extreme Metal scene in your area? is it pretty active with lots of bands and fans all getting involved? Also, do you play any Punk shows or do you stick to the metal ones?

I would say the Metal scene in my hometown of Lexington, Kentucky is slowly returning. After the hiatus of shows from COVID, many bands venues dissolved. Great to see them slowly returning though. We play as many Punk shows as we do Metal shows honestly. And I think we are a great fit for either. We enjoy the energy of both!

I'd like to ask you about your band name. How did you come to choose Black Knife? It sounds like some underground rebel movement!

It is! We are unlike every band and we embrace it! That being said, I really liked the name because I thought it was simple but effective. It is memorable and also does not tie your sound to any one style which is very fitting for us. You could be a Death Metal band or a Punk band and the name works just the same.

What are your future plans for Black Knife? What can we expect from you in the next 12 months?

 We have tons of plans and goals for the future. We have started working on the next full length album. So next year we are going to release the next full length, then play a Westcoast tour as well as some fests we are already booked on. Then we have a 2024 European tour in the works which we are beyond excited for as I have never been outside of the US. Lots of exciting stuff in the works!

Thanks very much for answering my questions. The last words are for you!

 

To the fans : We always appreciate the interest in Black Knife, and stay tuned for lots more to come. STAY EVIL/STAY WEIRD

-Hellwulv

* You can listen to the excellent BLACK KNIFE by clicking HERE! *

[REVIEW] DEVOURING FAMINE – The Wrath of Lamb (Demo) [2022] Self Release

California’s Devouring Famine debut with their first demo 'The Wrath of Lamb'. The one-man Black Metal market is a little crowded at the moment and understandably some do not always hit my radar immediately, fortunately, right place, right time I spotted a two-track demo by Devouring Famine and so began my journey into 'The Wrath of Lamb'. 

[REVIEW] ENERGETIC KRUSHER - Path To Oblivion - Re-Release [2022] Chaos Control

More than 30 years after it first obliterated the ears of the UK's Metal loving fanbase, 'Path to Oblivion' by the North East's Energetic Krusher has finally been given the treatment! Chaos Control have re-mastered this buried gem of 1980's UK Death/Thrash and put it out on red & yellow splatter vinyl!

[INTERVIEW] With the UK's Satanic Doom Merchants TUMANDUUMBAND!

Satanic Droning Sludge Doom from Stourbridge in the UK. This noise mongering duo are heavy, crushingly heavy, and their unbelievable talent has seen them land a slot at this year's Bloodstock Festival. I caught up with drummer Luke Orchard to see how that came about, and to tell me about the band's genesis and mission statement.

[REVIEW] CERBERUS - My Prophecy Will Come [2022] Schwarzdorn Production

In my opinion more Black Metal should have a clarion call of triumphant horns randomly blasting away in the background of an album! or in this case maybe they call out to announce the return of German one man Black Metal band Cerberus, whose hiatus of sixteen long years has been broken by the unleashing of a long awaited third album. Entitled 'My Prophecy Will Come' and with a sound somewhere in the region of a Dimmu Borgir meets Satyricon hybrid, Schwarzdorn Production has seen fit to put this one out this October.

[REVIEW] WRAITH / BLACK KNIFE / GRAVERIPPER / UNHOLY NIGHT - Faster Than the Fucking Devil - Split [2022] Wise Blood Records

 

There won't be many better release names this year than 'Faster Than the Fucking Devil'. And it's a very fitting moniker for this four way split release brought to you by Wise Blood Records. Introducing the participants; firstly from Kentucky, Black Metal/Punk trio Black Knife, Indiana's Black/Speed/Thrash Metal/Punk tyrants Wraith, and then Moscow, Russia's Black/Speed Metal demons Unholy Night, and last but not least is another Indiana band, Black/Thrash/Speed Metal merchants of death, Graveripper.

[REVIEW] VESTHANGARTH - Doomed Blood Concatenation Demo [2022] Self Release

Hailing from Concepción on the Chilean coast, Rotsterbaen (Drums/Vocals) and Horgshnar (Guitar/Bass) have created a new Black Metal project going by the name of Vesthangarth, and the duo have unleashed a debut demo entitled 'Doomed Blood Concatenation' and featuring three tracks of furious bile spitting Black Metal fury.

[REVIEW] PROPHETIC SUFFERING - MMXXII Demo [2022] Self Released

Canada is the home to some of the worlds best Bestial Black/Death Metal around, and so it should be no surprise that Edmonton, Alberta is the latest to spawn a new frothing unholy dungeonous beast of burden. Prophetic Suffering are a diabolical quartet who take various influences from both the realms of Black and Death Metal and combine them in a variety of dastardly and reprehensible ways for their debut offering, 'Demo MMXXII'.

[REVIEW] NECRODEITY - Death over Kalikshetra [2022] Death Oracle

Black Mary reviews the new Necrodeity live album, 'Death over Kalikshetra'.

Years ago, when I was a youngster looking for interesting things to stuff my ears with, I was an avid reader of musical magazines (back in the day when internet access was granted to a small group of people in the world) and reviews of live records were extremely rare, as editors mostly agreed live recordings present bands in the worst possible manner. Seemed weird at the time and now, years later, it seems completely idiotic. Live recordings present the band how the band actually sounds, without the polished production and the entire set up and all the fancy stuff a band is capable of putting on stage, to hide the fact that their sound is utter crap. In a live recording, you hear the artist / band as they straightforward are. You actually hear the band this way. The bands soul, if you will.

[REVIEW] FLESH CRUSHER - Bastardized Demo / Demonic Possession Demo [2022] Self-Released

Recently I have noticed the emergence of a one man Death Metal project from Gothenburg, Sweden with a far more Stockholm based sound, and 2022 has been a busy year to date for Count P.von Nekrotik and his drum machine Lord Battery S. Domination the Second, with the release of not one but two demo releases under the moniker of Flesh Crusher.

[INTERVIEW] With UK Black Metal Band VOLNIIR!

And so to the third and final part of my Malice & Insurrection Tour trilogy of interviews. We've heard from Sidious and Andracca, and now we have the thoughts and views from fellow UK Black Metal band Volniir. Enjoy...

[REVIEW[ VERMINOUS KNIGHT - Malignant Descent [2022] Forbidden Keep Records

You can have all of the technical prowess in the world, but sometimes all you need is a hypnotic Dungeon Synth intro track, followed by some fast paced simple drum beats melded to some raw guitar leads and more synth in the background for the atmospherics, and you're on to a winner. Meet 'Malignant Descent', the debut album from Spaniard Sanguinous Moth, and his new project Verminous Knight.

[REVIEW] SUFFERING - Temen​-​Ni​-​Gru (11​:​11) EP [2022] Matriarch Records

Suffering’s latest four-track EP takes inspiration from Devil May Cry “Temen-Ni-Gru” being the unholy tower that harbours the true gateway to the demon world.

[REVIEW] DOMINION OF ASHES - Wretched EP [2022] Self-Released

Dominion of Ashes are a modern sounding Death Metal band from the Steel City of Sheffield, and this year has seen them unleash their debut EP, entitled simply 'Wretched'. Consisting of four brutal tracks and being adorned by impressive atmospheric cover art, I had high hopes going into this release.

[REVIEW] WRITTEN IN TORMENT - Black Command [2022] Purity Through Fire

Harrogate’s Written In Torment has been active since 2003 and the sole member, Mike ‘Leviathan’ Hardisty, is responsible for all instruments and vocals. ‘Black Command’ is the fourth full-length from him, following 2019’s ‘Maledictus Dies Illa’, and came out on 4th July 2022 through Purity Through Fire.

[REVIEW] NECRAMBULANT - A Feast of Festering Flesh EP [2022] Gore House Productions

It's been almost a decade but Phoenix, Arizona's Brutal Death Metal trio Necrambulant have returned with a brand new EP of festering gore laden brutality! The 'A Feast of Festering Flesh' EP features six short tracks and has been put out on CD and Cassette by Gore House Productions.

[REVIEW] ANDRACCA - A Sermon in the Universal Language of Suffering [2020] Wulfhere Productions

There was a time when UK Black Metal project Andracca would wax lyrical on Tolkienian mythology, but come 2020 and the 'A Sermon in the Universal Language of Suffering' EP, things have taken on a far darker and more real world complexion. 

[REVIEW] PRAETORIAN - A Deluge of Bad Faith EP [2022] Self Released

UK Sludge/Hardcore bastards Praetorian like to do things in small doses. An EP here, a single release there. 'A Deluge of Bad Faith' is the bands fifth offering and their first post-pandemic, and dishes out three tracks of snarling misanthropy and degradation.

[REVIEW] BLOODRUST - A Legacy of Vengeance [2021] Desolate Sound Productions / Plague Demon Records

Bloodrust, the only metal band to hail from our furthest flung colony, The Falkland Islands. A one man Death Metal project, Bloodrust last year released a sophomore full length album entitled 'A Legacy of Vengeance', released on cassette via Desolate Sound Productions and on CD by Plague Demon Records.

[REVIEW] ACID CROSS - Dungeon Thrash EP [2020] Self Released

Canadian Thrash Metal band Acid Cross have been thrashing out over old horror movies since 2014. Released in 2020, their 'Dungeon Thrash' EP and in particular the cover art for their cassette release really tells you everything that the band are about.

[REVIEW] BLASTED HEATH - Vela [2022] Wise Blood Records

Whatever you expect when you hear the term Black/Thrash Metal, throw those concepts out of the window when it comes to Indianapolis quartet Blasted Heath. Their debut album 'Vela' (Released via Wise Blood Records on CD, Cassette and 12" Vinyl, and mastered by the legendary Dan Swano) is an album of the year contender, and I'm more than happy to give you my reasons as to why you should surging towards your local record store for a copy like it's Black Friday and widescreens are at 70% off! 

[REVIEW] CONAN - Evidence of Immortality [2022] Napalm Records

The beast has returned! UK Stoner/Sludge Doom monster CONAN is back with their fifth studio release - 'Evidence of Immortality' - and the follow up to 2018's 'Existential Void Guardian'. (Both released through Napalm Records) So we return to the crushing world of megalithic riffs and epic fantasy worlds, thanks to another bout of seismic Doom savagery courtesy of the one and only Conan!

[REVIEW] VESTAL CUNTVOMIT – Slaughter for Satan - Demo [2022] Unpure Records

Most music genres strive to progress through its works and evolve into something even more
creative (and yes, some of them completely lose their way and just become absurd). The most vile combination of Black and Death Metal (known to elitists as 'War Metal') doesn't really give a flying fuck about it. (like it doesn't about most things). Even though War Metal began in the early nineties and a lot of the bands representing it have mellowed down since or just became too technical, there are certain hidden gems that keep the original flame going and still remain vile and interesting as much as the pioneers of the genre were. Vestal Cuntvomit from Australia are definitely one of the latter.

[REVIEW] PANZERFAUST - The Suns of Perdition - Chapter III: The Astral Drain [2022] Eisenwald

The third part of the Panzerfaust Tetralogy is upon us and we are now swirling into the blackened void of a shared collective madness. In the first two chapters the band took us on an uncomfortable journey through our recent history and the unspeakable acts of horror and degradation we as a race have perpetrated.

[REVIEW] ACID THRONE - The Demo [Self-Released]

 

A catchy and powerful opening demo release from Norwich, England, as Stoner/Doom Metal quartet ACID THRONE announce their presence with a mixture of down tuned fuzz fuelled riffs, colossal plunging guitar leads and drumming, and a rather soothing and meandering style in between the heavy chunks of aggression as the band like to wander into melodic pastures at random intervals.

[INTERVIEW] With UK Black Metal Band SIDIOUS!

Following on from my  interview with Andracca, the second protagonist of next months UK tour Sidious, have also been kind enough to spend some time answer my questions. Have a read at what they had to say.

[INTERVIEW] With UK Black Metal Band ANDRACCA!

September 2022 sees an epic looking mini tour of the UK taking place, with three Black Metal bands, Sidious, Andracca and Volniir taking in four dates around the country. So to get people prepared for this feast of darkness I've spoken to each band, starting here and now with Andracca.

[REVIEW] COUNT VORNOK – Guided By The Light Of Felrisian’s Staff [2022] Self Release

Count Vornok begins the new year with the first part of the “Age of Blight” trilogy with “Guided By The Light of Felrisian’s Staff”

There are certain things that grab my attention for example an album/artist described as Ancient and Arcane Dungeon Black Metal and then you start to listen and the opening narration on the opening track “An introduction: Born of the Dungeon Black” is none other than Mortiis then you know that you’re onto a winning formula.

[REVIEW] ARD - Take Up My Bones [2022] Prophecy Productions

 

I'll no doubt be proved wrong on this, but in my own personal musical bubble, I've never heard anything like Ard. Therefore, Mark Deeks (Of Winterfylleth fame) has achieved something exceptionally rare in this day and age. He's created something original and that my friends is a talent all to itself. A debut album of Northumbrian Monastic Doom - 'Take Up My Bones' - this is an album of the year contender folks so strap yourselves in for some gushing!

[REVIEW] TYRANT - 'Tales of Realms Forgotten' [2022] Wulfhere Productions

 

If the enigmatic title for this debut album - 'Tales of Realms Forgotten' - doesn't pique your interest, then the deeply atmospheric and beautifully rendered artwork for the new Tyrant opus most surely will. There won't be many pieces of album art coming out this year that beats this one. 

[Review] SERPENT OMEGA - "II" [2020] Icons Creating Evil Art

 

One of my all time favourite bands has to be Sweden's Sludge/Doom murk dwellers SERPENT OMEGA. Their debut self-titled album was a masterpiece of blackened, filthy, squalor swimming Doom. After 7 years, they have finally returned with "II", and my how things have progressed...

[Review] RAZÖR FÖRGE / CHAOSHORDE - Split [2022] Vicious Witch Records

 

An interesting 7" vinyl release to get the new Empyrion Fanzine off the ground. Brought you you by Vicious Witch Records, UK Heavy Metal one man project RAZÖR FÖRGE and Greek Speed/Thrash/Black Metal duo CHAOSHORDE combine for eight minutes of old school fury and savagery!