MetalFromNL has previously listened to Von Mollestein for a review, and has since then followed the band and their endeavors. If you’ve read the review, you know Von Mollestein isn’t your usual cup of tea. More like a cup of whiskey, lit on fire, topped off with some motor oil. If you’re into dark, horror and ebm, Von Mollestein might be the band for you. We sent the band some questions to get to know them a little better.
(Dutch version below)
Releasedate: 27-10-2023
Solarcycles have been working on their music for a while, but I didn’t notice them till they released Raven’s Call earlier this year. The band previously released the EP ‘Ethereal Storms’ in 2017 but now they’re back with a full length album, Lunar, and some video’s to go along with that. We’ve previously mentioned tracks from this upcoming album in our MetalFromNL Tiplijst and on our socials as well, and we’re thrilled that they’ve finally released their album. Let’s see what Lunar has to offer us!
Solarcycles started out in 2015. They play a doomy, melancholic version of (melodic) folk metal. The band has a strong connection to nature, and their music calls for emotional acceptance and unity with the world around us. If you look at their website, their communication online, and their videos, it’s clear that this connection with nature and the mystical, Celtic vibe isn’t just for show. Musically, the band seems to draw inspiration from melodic bands like Before the Dawn, Nightwish, and Celtic music.
A good vocalist can make or break a band. With Solarcycles, while all the musicians are more than capable, Sacha’s vocals are the thing that will carry this band to great heights. I’m also gonna give a special mention for the violin parts by …. The combination of the haunting violin melodies and the unique sound of Sacha’s voice is what makes Solarcycles stand out. All too often, the Dutch accent is prominent in the vocals. With SolarCycles I had to do a double take the first time I heard them to make sure they were actually from the Netherlands. Also, Sacha’s voice reminded me a lot of the Cranberries. They have a very distinct Celtic tone, which even without the rest of the band would take their music into the folk realm.
Lunar is heavy on the emotional side. The combination of the vocals and the choice of chord progressions and tempo really invoke a sense of melancholy, and on some tracks, hope. Since the whole album is about nature and our place in it, that makes sense to me.
The album starts with the track Nature’s Blessing, a track that reminds me of old Nightwish tracks, or maybe Evanescence. The violin melody and the vocals alternate nicely and the whole is supported by guitars that aren’t too in your face and a nice orchestration. The instrumental break halfway through the song is a nice change of pace.
From Nature’s Blessing, we dive into Raven’s Call, a track that has been previously released. Even after hearing the rest of the album, this track might still be my favorite by this band. The whole track has that Scandinavian sound that made me wonder where this band was from in the first place. It has that gloomy melancholy vibe that is more common in the north, and I’m curious to see how this album will be received in those regions. The part that really makes this track for me though, is the chorus. The unique qualities of Sacha’s voice and vocal melodies are really prominent in this track. If you only listen to one track from this album; pick Ravens Call.
Ode to the Forest starts off on a quieter note, with nature sounds in the background and a mellow, 3/4th beat. This is the first track where we hear some grunts from I presume one of the guitarists as well. Again in this track an instrumental break to showcase the rest of the band.
Immeasurable Fog was already previously released as well, and it’s again a slower, more moody/gloomy track. I didn’t quite like it when it was first released, and it’s still not my favorite. I think my problem with the track is that it’s a bit too monotone. Also, I’m just not a big fan of ballads, which this track clearly is even though it has a guitar solo at the end.
Luckily for me, with Moonlit Fields Solarcycles picks up the pace again. The piano on the track reminds me of Nightwish again, however, the main riff is clearly folk-metal inspired.
After Moonlit Fields, however, the rest of the album became a bit blurry to me. It might be because the tracks all start to sound a bit the same at some point. Rivers of Light feels more hopeful and less gloomy than some of the other tracks. This track also features the grunts again. On a positive note, Moonblind starts off on piano and sounds like the intro could be from Ludovico Einaudi. This might very well be my second favorite track. Especially when the track kicks into gear after the first verse.
Wrath of the Sea is the heaviest track on the album, also because the guitars are more prominent on it. It feels nautical right off the bat with the chord progressions. Bind the Circle starts off in the same way most tracks have. What sets this track apart though is the heavier break in the middle of the track. Grows then Dies is the final track of the album. A final track to showcase the vocals, piano, and of course some guitar solos
Solarcylces truly is a unique sound in the Dutch metal community. It’s also nice to see some (well done) symphonic/melodic folk metal to balance the heavier stuff that gets released nowadays. It brings back memories of the times when Nightwish, Evanescence, Within Temptation and folk bands like Omnia were still reigning. However, to be completely honest, after a few tracks, it doesn’t excite me as much as it did when I first heard Raven’s Call. It might be because the tracks might sound a little too much the same. It might also be because the violin has more interesting melodies than the guitars. However, highlights of the album for me are Raven’s Call, Moonblind, and maybe Moonlit Fields. If you only listen to one track from this album, I’d say listen to Raven’s Call.
You can find Solarcycles on their own website (it’s beautiful, check it out!), on Facebook, or in our database.
(Nederlandse versie onderaan)
The Color of Rain is a new player in the Dutch Black Metal scene. Their debut album ‘Oceans Above’ is getting a lot of positive feedback, even before the official release on November 7th. MetalFromNL asked the band some questions about their origin, their inspiration, and the influence of the pandemic on their music. Check this interview to get a glimpse of what to expect from the band’s debut album!
Releasedate: 30-09-2023
If you’re in need of a smoke- or coffee mosh break during your workday, look no further! Finger Collector Crew gives you 15 minutes of happy moshing respite from your boring workday and leaves you with enough energy to smash out your day. Or your boss. Or your pc. Actually, these 15 minutes filled with happy aggression just leave you wanting to smash stuff. Moshpit in the breakroom, anyone?
Releasedate: 12-10-2023
Lord Volture, with over 15,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, is a heavy-metal force to be reckoned with. With three full-length albums under their belt since 2010, the band is now releasing their first Live Album, Live ’em Up. If you’re a fan of heavy metal, check out this new live album filled with high-pitched screams and guitar solos with us.
Releasedate: 29 september 2023
After releasing two tracks earlier this year, TerraDown is back with a vengeance with their latest EP, Checkmate. Coming in hard, guns blazing, with a video clip as well, this band is ready to take over the scene once more. Winners of the Metal Battle before, we expect a lot from this melodic metal band from Breda. Let’s tune in and check out their latest EP as we review Checkmate.
Releasedate: 01-09-2023
Obscure Reality is a metalcore band from Zevenaar, the Netherlands. They have competed in the preliminaries for the Metal Battle this year in Overijssel. Other than that, there is not much known about this band, so we’ll just dive right into the EP.
Releasedate: 29-09-2023
After four singles to tease us for this upcoming release, Nox Aeterna’s latest album Subject 17 has finally been dropped. This melodic death metalband from the West of the Netherlands have been around for almost 2 decades, and as they say, good wine ripes with age. Let’s take a sip of this new release.
Bards of Valor, a heavy rock and folk metal band from Enschede, have released their latest album Aegir’s Wrath during a live show last weekend. Let’s dive into the tale of Vikings and Dragons together as we listen to their 43 minutes of new music.
Following Trust Us We’re Liars’ initial release, “Neophyte Vitae,” the band attracted a significant following. They’ve performed at various venues across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, sharing the stage with established acts such as Changing Tides and Resolve. With their latest album, Trust Us We’re Liars is now ready to take the spotlight by headlining their own show for the album release. Let’s explore the 41 minutes of new tracks presented by this Dutch metalcore band.
Trust Us We’re Liars is a metalcore band from Delft. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; metalcore seems to be the flavor of the season. TUWL gives their unique spin to the genre, however. That’s also the beauty of metalcore; since it’s evolved from hardcore and extreme metal, there are rarely two bands that sound exactly the same. If you want to compare TUWL with another band, however, Amity Affliction might come to mind. Or, in comparison to a Dutch band, maybe Wake of Dawn. The band released their first EP ‘Neophyte Vitae’ in 2019 and has since then been working on stage performance and new music. The last few years seem to have taken a toll on the band, however, since the vocalist Ward is leaving the band after their album release party. Not to worry though, the band has already found a replacement. Safe to say we’ll be hearing more from this band.
The album opens with the Bluest Light, for which the band also released a video. This track had been released previously so I’ve heard this one quite a lot already. It’s a good opener for an album, with clean vocals, nice melodies, and some orchestration to complement the heavy guitar riffs. I had heard this track before, so the breakdown at the end wasn’t a surprise to me anymore, but it will be if you hear this track for the first time. That kind of abrupt ending seems to be somewhat of a theme, since the next song Suffer has an abrupt ending to the song as well.
Suffer takes the TUWL sound one step further though by mixing in fast blastbeats. The chorus on this track is a good example of why this band has a commercial sound. I don’t mean that in a bad way – it’s just easy to listen to, with a good hook. For a metal band to connect to a large audience, it’s good to have hooks that stick, and the chorus of Sufer definitely stays in your mind.
Sleep Silently was also released previously and while it opens hard and heavy, the chorus is clean and emotional again. Again, a very good hook, as the line Finally Sleep Silently is easy to shout along. Breakdowns are never far away though with this band, and again this track has plenty. Landslide feels like a rollercoaster and reminds me of the 00’s sound of POD. Maybe it’s because of the intro of the song, but it might also be the fast riff with the emotional growls from frontguy Ward. That’s only for the verse parts though, the chorus takes this track in a whole other direction.
Forgive and Forget starts out a lot heavier, and slower, than the previous tracks. The build-up in the middle of this track and the following clean vocal part reminds me of Linking Park, so again we’re back to the 00’s sound. The djenty breaks and orchestration in the back make it sound very modern though. Again, the chorus for this track is very strong, with just the right chord progression and energy.
New Wind is one of my favorite tracks on this album. That’s because of the dissonant intro chords, that make it sound nice and dark. The screamy, raspy vocals match the energy of the guitars in the verse nicely. The chorus takes us back to the now familiar sound and again makes this otherwise quiet heavy song a lot more approachable. Then ending, however, is again a little too abrupt for my taste.
God’s Way continues the heavy path New Wind set us on and takes it a step further. The dark riffs and the almost desperate growls makes this definitely the darkest track on this album. It’s also the slowest breakdown we’ve heard so far (hello Djent).
Anno Doloris isn’t really a track, it’s an instrumental filler. It’s beautiful though, and sounds like a moviescore. It’s an interlude for Years of Pain, which starts where Anno Doloris left off. Every album needs a ballad, and this is Trust Us We’re Liars’ interpretation of one. Of course, still filled with the necessary riffs, breakdowns, and growls. Especially because of the melodic orchestration and the theme that continues from Anno Doloris though, it’s the most melodic and emotional track from the album.
With Fake Empire we dive back into the previously created chaos. Right away we start with the heavy riffs again. For the most interesting part of this track however, you need to wait till a little over half, when the track first kicks into double tempo and then switches back to the breakdowns again.
The final track of the album is Lost in Forever and Trust Us We’re Liars decides to go out with a banger. Energy high from the get-go, and basically a summary of all the elements we heard in the previous tracks. The double vocals on the chorus really add another layer to this chorus. Can anything make that better? Yes, it can! The addition of Amy-May’s vocals takes this track to a whole other level and reminds me of the emo-core bands that used to be. A really nice way to end a worthy second release.
Incrementum is a nicely balanced album for people who enjoy listening to metalcore. While that is still a rather broad genre, Trust Us We’re Liars combines all the necessary elements in tracks that are easy to listen too, while still interesting enough. Personal favorites would be Bluest Light and New Wind, but I can imagine a lot of people might pick Lost in Forever as a favorite as well. If you grew up with the 00’s metal- and emocore bands, you might recognize a lot of that in this album.
You can find Trust Us We’re Liars on Facebook, their website or in our database.
