Ivan Tibos.

There are some things in our world which must rest eternally. But sometimes, in the deepest caves of the earth, where no light shines, there is a sound that echoes under the stones and wakes our nightmares… Still feeling comfortable?

For quite some time, and through different releases, French outfit Barbarossa Umtrunk gives its specific view on humanity (anti-Liberalism and searching the truth behind totalitarism in a democratic society; or am I misinterpreting the concept?) by means of quite unusual and eerie sonic escapes. This solo-project by Baron Von Stenay appears on splits especially, and now they return with a new full length, La Fosse De Babel (‘the tomb of Babel’).

Faunus Amadeus Loki acts under different monikers, both in collaboration with other artists (such as The Krueger; for example involved with Stark von Oben or Dracul – Order Of The Dragon), as well as solo (like Visoteric [there will be a review for this project soon], Berzerker, Volk Lore, Faunus Loki or Endoki Forest); I recently wrote and updated the review for Endoki Forest’s Black Sorcerers Forest – see the upl

I have to be honest, but I hadn’t heard of Jozef Van Wissem before. But actually, this guy did win an award in Cannes for the best soundtrack for the movie Only Lovers Left Alive (by James Roberto ‘Jim’ Jarmusch, known from the Coffee And Cigarettes motion pictures especially, I guess). Apparently, Jozef composed some material as well for some of the Sims video games, but with his lute, the guy did reach quite a bigger audience.

For quite some time Malmort, hailing from the Rhône-Alpes region in the East of France, are terrorizing the scene, but Vox In Excelso actually is the band’s first full length release despite about a decade of existence. Hass Weg Productions did send me over this 2012-release, as well as 2014’s Excerpta Funebris, so I will review both of them, of course.

Funeral Of God are an Italian act that were formed in 2010 by Paolo ‘Odio’ Cerretini, also involved with extreme acts such as Mincer, In League With Satan, Glioblastoma, G.N.C. or Red Bible Black. Soon Paolo (bass and lead guitars, drum programming) got joined by Ukrainian artist Mariya Popyk.

Death Carnival Records came up with a very limited split (edition of twenty copies only, minus mine…), a collaborative in between Russia’s Ashley Blues and American one-man army Joli. Both sonically adorn one side of the tape, which comes with mysteriously-attractive artwork.

The name K.F.R (mind the lack of an additional point after the ‘r’!) comes from the Arabic word for ‘käfir’; not the fungus, but a word that means ‘disbeliever’, which was tattooed on the Antichrist’s forehead in Islam. All hail the käfir!

This Story Happened Before… It’s the damn truth! It did happen before. Many times. In Europe, in Asia, in America. Centuries, many centuries ago it happened. Last year it happened in Paris. And now, Brussels… Leaders of Europe: pay attention! This story happened before and it might happen again!

Hailing from the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine, Mortalium did debut in very early 2011 with the EP On The Broken Wings (though it was available before in digital format too). Metal Renaissance did release this band’s debut full length in Spring 2013 (with one of the most fabulous covers I know!), and now, with a slightly adapted line-up, Mortalium return with the sophomore full length, Obligate Loneliness.