August 2016 – Page 4 – Wonderbox Metal

Interview with Void Omnia

US black metallers Void Omnia have released quite a storming debut album. It’s called Dying Light and is definitely one that you should check out. With speed, melody and atmosphere, it’s a well-rounded release that latches onto the listener with its aggressive tempo, and stays there by virtue of dark moods and layered textures. The band’s vocalist Jamison Kester touched base with us to keep us informed about what they’re up to…

Introduce us to Void Omnia!

We are 5 piece atmospheric black metal band from Oakland, CA that began in 2011 but truly did not take shape until the latter half of 2013.

What are your influences?

Our musical influences range from black, death, grind and classical. All of us are multi-instrumentalists who listen to a broad scope of music at varying degrees. Continue reading “Interview with Void Omnia”

Interview with Slomatics

Future Echo Returns is, basically, a great album. Mixing sheer heaviness, colourful vocals, infectious melodies, atmospheric synths and a real emotional connection to the listener, I simply can’t say enough good things about this record. So I won’t bother trying – just make sure you get your claws on it and let the band sweep you away. David, the band’s guitarist, took the time to tell us all about the album, his band, and life in general…

Introduce us to Slomatics!

Hi. We’re a three piece based in Belfast, Ireland. The line up is Marty on drums/vocals/synths, Chris on guitar and I’m on guitar too. We formed in 2004, toured and put out a couple of albums and some splits. Marty joined us in 2011 and that’s really when things kicked off. Continue reading “Interview with Slomatics”

Memoirs of a Secret Empire – Vertigo (Review)

Memoirs of a Secret Empire, (otherwise known as MOASE), are a post-metal band from Portugal, and this is their debut album.

This is expansive and progressive post-metal that creates mood and feeling through instrumental songs that belie the fact that there’s only three members of the band.

Well, I say instrumental – there are some Continue reading “Memoirs of a Secret Empire – Vertigo (Review)”

Banisher – Oniric Delusions (Review)

This is Polish death metal band Banisher’s third album.

I like Banisher, as although they have a core of brutality, they infuse their music with a good deal of technicality and are not afraid to experiment with their sound either, introducing interesting ideas and some progressive elements.

Their last album, Scarcity, was really, really good, and on Oniric Delusions the band take what they did with Continue reading “Banisher – Oniric Delusions (Review)”

Falaise – As Time Goes By (Review)

This is the debut album from Falaise, an atmospheric/post-black metal band from Italy.

Melancholic and full of depressive moods and feelings, Falaise’s debut album is filled to the brim with sadness, loss and abandoned hope.

The band channel this misery into 61 minutes of atmospheric/post-black metal that uses fragility as a weapon and despondency as an end unto itself.

In many ways this is a product of the blackgaze scene, with all that entails. Continue reading “Falaise – As Time Goes By (Review)”

While They Sleep – La Nausee (Review)

This is the debut album from Ukrainian black metal one-man project While They Sleep.

This is primarily raw, old-school black metal that sits firmly in the grimmest underground layers of hidden worlds. Add a touch of the depressive and atmospheric styles into the mix too and you have 63 minutes of ominous, dark music.

Taking the unpolished second-wave style and Continue reading “While They Sleep – La Nausee (Review)”

Thy Art Is Murder/The Acacia Strain/Fit for an Autopsy – The Depression Sessions – Split (Review)

This is a split release between three modern death metal/deathcore bands, featuring one original song and one cover song from each artist. Thy Art Is Murder are from Australia, and The Acacia Strain and Fit for an Autopsy are from the US.

Thy Art Is Murder contribute the song They Will Know Another and a cover of Rammstein’s Du Hast, for a total of 9 minutes of music.

They Will Know Another showcases the familiar roars of the band’s vocalist alongside mid-paced Continue reading “Thy Art Is Murder/The Acacia Strain/Fit for an Autopsy – The Depression Sessions – Split (Review)”

Interview with Cerberus Unchained – An introduction

Have you heard of Cerberus Unchained? I’m guessing you probably haven’t. They’re a melodic death metal band from the UK. They might only have released one song so far, but it’s a corker, and more than enough reason for you to start keeping an eye on them.

The passion the band have for the music they play is evident not just in their words below, but also in their debut song, Warm Blooded Beast, which you can listen to at the bottom of this interview. Do make sure you take the time to give it a spin, as it’s melodic death metal of the highest quality – with none of the dross or overly commercialised stuff we’ve, (Sadly), come to expect from the melodic death metal sub-genre tag these days. No, Cerberus Unchained have shown that they’re potentially on to something special with this song, so it’s with much eagerness that I now await their future output.

As I frequently say – good music should always be supported – so with that in mind I caught up with the band to find out more about them, why you should be paying them attention, and why they could very much be ones to watch…

Introduce us to Cerberus Unchained!

Cerberus Unchained, readers, readers, Cerberus Unchained.

What are your influences?

We’ve got a pretty wide range of influences to be honest, but we all like it loud. Anything goes really from, Heck (sorry about the swearing), to Corrosion of Conformity, Children of Bodom to Dream Theater and then back to Iron Maiden for good measure. Sam recently professed enthusiasm for Babymetal as well so we’re keeping an eye on him just in case he does something silly.

Name five things you’ve listened to recently that you’d recommend

I think the best band I’ve discovered recently has to be Allegaeon, their work is just mindblowing; technical, smart lyrics and badass delivery. Beyond that I’d have to recommend the new Countless Skies album, the new Children of Bodom album, and absolutely anything by Ghost B.C. and Clutch. Oh, and the Dorylus ‘Rapture’ EP! – Simon Continue reading “Interview with Cerberus Unchained – An introduction”

Morrow – Covenant of Teeth (Review)

Morrow are a UK-based doom/sludge/crust band. This is their latest album.

This is one of those releases that will likely infuriate those who like music that’s easily classifiable. According to the band, they’re emo crust, and I can see why they’d say that. In my opinion, describing Morrow as a d-beat influenced crust band may be superficially correct in some ways, but there’s so much more than that going on here. They have a cello Continue reading “Morrow – Covenant of Teeth (Review)”

Void Omnia – Dying Light (Review)

Void Omnia are a black metal band from the US, and this is their debut album.

Dying Light is largely fast and furious, taking elements of melodic and atmospheric black metal into its dark, cold embrace and suffocating them with the essence of the deep void of outer space.

Full of blast beats and fast riffs, the songs on Dying Light Continue reading “Void Omnia – Dying Light (Review)”