Zemial

[Eoin McLove]

'Nykta' was my introduction to the great music if Zemial a few years ago and I'm currently on a bit of a buzz for their older material,  and have ordered some of the back catalogue. Greek BM is quite a distinctive style and certainly Zemial fit into that,  but they (or he) is in no way confined by it.  I had a feeling that delving backward from the vast,  sprawling and diverse 'Nykta' might be a bit disappointing,  possibly accounting for my reticence in doing so,  as I expected it to be more typically Norwegian sounding for some reason.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  Going right back to the early stuff you can hear many of the same traits present from the start.  Catchy black thrash music with a quite clear production and an emphasis on heavy metal earworms. They hardly ever seem to get a mention alongside Rotting Christ, Varathron or Necromantia which is a bit of a crime as they are easily equal to those bands and arguably have been more consistent in terms of quality.  Hopefully there will be a new full length soon but in the mean time I'm happy to continue to work through the back catalogue.

https://zemial.bandcamp.com/

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

Two full lengths on the way actually, one in the old black thrash style, one the more proggy, spaced-out end.

[Eoin McLove]

Deadly! I'm off Facebook so I'm out of the loop in terms of band news.  Any idea when they'll be out?

[Eoin McLove]

The 'In Monumentum' CD (and 'Necrolatry' t-shirt) arrived today and l have her spinning here now.  Not as adventurous as 'Nykta', perhaps,  but it sounds good to me.  The title track is total 'Hammerheart' worship which is always welcome.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

He says they're written and demoed and recording will start soon. To be released through Agonia.

There's a reissue on vinyl of For The Glory of Ur due out any time now too.

[Eoin McLove]

It's out already and available from their bandcamp page.

[Eoin McLove]

The 'Face of the Conqueror/ Necrolatry' CD arrived yesterday. Savage pair of EPs. It's gas,  you could easily argue that Zemial's music is totally generic,  and in many ways it is- a lot of the riffs follow simple well-trod ground (a bit of Celtic Frost here, a bit of Sodom there, a bit of Bathory over yonder)- but there's some black magic in the mix that makes it so much more than the sum of its parts. Nice drumming helps,  killer vocal delivery helps too and the great production certainly helps.  Excited to hear the new albums.

[Eoin McLove]

New interview online.

https://corruptselection.proseful.com/corrupt-conversation-or-zemial

[Eoin McLove]

https://zemial.bandcamp.com/album/to-slay-with-silent-dagger-maxi-ep?from=fanpub_fb

This is from the new album and there'll be another two songs released next week. Sounds good to me. Sounds like.... ZEMIAL! No complaints from me 

[CorkonianHunger]

Sounds class

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

Tis deadly. And that solo on To Slay... is sublime.

[Eoin McLove]

I'm glad Proscriptor has more of a background role. To be honest, I'm not really sure why he's even there as Vorskaath is well able to handle everything, but I don't mind his vocals as a backing element I suppose.

[Eoin McLove]

Finally bit the bullet and grabbed the CD and t-shirt. Fuck it!

To Slay With Silent Dagger is a whopper of a song. Jesus.

[O Drighes]

We saw them in Bucharest last Friday at Old Grave Fest and it was fantastic. They are actually even better live.

They played a song of the upcoming album, very old school.

[Eoin McLove]

I would love to see them live. I hope those two albums aren't too far off.