#171 Tom/EZR's Reviews 5xMC Tapes: SÍR, Burial Hex, Bleib Modern, Aeon Winds, The Last Days of Jesus // December 2025

 

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Exkurzia do sveta magnetofónových kaziet, mikro labelov, samovydaní bez časového obmedzenia, do ktorého vyberám 5 kaziet zo svojej zbierky a JDØS distra. Ak chcete, aby sa vaša kazeta objavila v ďaľšom dieli, napíšte mi na jablkadalekodstromu@gmail.com 

December 2025:

1. SÍR - Unreachable Mountain (2025, Fekete Terror Productions)
2. Burial Hex - Mirrors (2025, Sky Burial)
3. Bleib Modern - Bleib Modern (2024, Young and Cold Records)
4. Aeon Winds - An Ode to the Mountains (2025, Hexencave Productions / Into the Night)
5. The Last Days of Jesus - Sepulcrum Christi Viventis (1995, samovydanie)  

 

 
 

1. SÍR - Unreachable Mountain (2025)

Country: HU
MC Label: Fekete Terror Productions (FTP050)
Tracklist: A1 Last Days • A2 Unreachable Mountain B1 Good Old Hatred • B2 Immersing Intoxicated
Total Playing Time: 41:55  

 

 

SÍR je jednočlenný projekt maďarského multiinštrumentalistu vystupujúceho pod menom Kryptagonist. Unreachable Mountain je jeho druhý dlhohrajúci album, ktorý na kazete vydal label Fekete Terror Records a s ktorým som spravil výmenu kaziet v novembri 2025. Kazeta má čierny polep, takže navitú pásku nevidno, priehľadné okraje a 4-stranný obojstranne potlačený, ručne číslovaný J-card. Obal zdobí maľba Among the Sierra Nevada od Alberta Bierstadta. 

 

 

Na Unreachable Mountain SÍR prináša melodický doom metal s jasnou stopou Black Sabbath, prepletený death-doom a shoegaze vplyvmi. Spev je prevažne čistý a melodický, so silnou gotickou atmosférou pripomínajúcou Alberta Witchfindera z Reverend Bizarre, čo albumu dodáva výnimočný charakter. Občas prejde do death growlu, približne v pomere 90/10. V niektorých skladbách znejú aj klávesy hosťujúceho Vorgrava. Nahallovaný rytmičák zas pripomenie Cathedral – Forest of Equilibrium. 

Celkový dojem je výborný – vyhotovenie kazety, zvuk aj samotný materiál určite stoja za to. Pár kópií Unreachable Mountain nájdete v distre JDØS.

 

⏭️ ⏭️


2. Burial Hex - Mirrors (2025)

Country: US
MC Label: Sky Burial (SKY076)
Tracklist: Side After: A1 Mirrors • A2 Phantasus Side Before: B1 Metaxy • B2 Dance of the Jupiter Youth
Total Playing Time: 28:59

 

Album Mirrors američana Claya Rubyho, ktorý je za projektom Burial Hex činným na drone/elektro-ambientnej scéne od roku 2005 vydal na limitovanej kazete slovenský label Nomad Sky Diaries, ktorý patrí Waldemarovi - organizátorovi festivalu Hradby Samoty. Kazeta má luxusné prevedenie, čo je vlastne trademark vydavateľstva NSD. O-card z tvrdého papiera v sebe skrýva kazetu v obale - obe ladené v zlatých farbách. Ručné číslovanie vnútri bookletu prezrádza limitku 76 kusov. Booklet z tvrdého papiera vyzerá minimalisticky - na tvrdom kvalitnom papieri je jednofarebná potlač. 

Zlatá kazeta má na sebe nápisy na oboch stranách "Blessing Me" a "Blessing You". Do magnetofónu vkladám prvú stranu. Pomalé harmónium, drum'n'bass, indiánske píštaly a odriekanie zaklínadiel growlovým hlasom. Takto si predstavujem okultnú šamanskú hudbu niekde v delte Mississippi, prípadne na planéte LV-426. Druhá strana kazety ma spočiatku iný feeling, skoro až pochodový úvodný song s výkrikmi a filmovo oslavným pozadím. Nasledujú cingrlátka, zvláštny budhistický postapo rituál, kedy je celkom jedno na aký pliešok sa udiera a v akom rytme. V závere sa vraciame k amazónskej nočnej more v ktorej growluje krvavý mayský boh Kukulkan, tento krát bez harmónia. 

Celý album je paleta zvukov a atmosfér, klasika ktorú by som si rád pozrel na Hradbách Samoty. Kazeta sa dá kúpiť u NSD, prípadne jeden kus aj v distre JDØS. 

 

⏭️ ⏭️


3. Bleib Modern - Bleib Modern (2024)

Country: DE
MC Label: Young and Cold Records (YCR172)
Tracklist: A1 4theWayDone • A2 Traum / Boy • A3 Everywhere I Go • A4 T.W.T.I.A. • A5 Fremder Junge • A6 Stell Dir Vor B1 Es Geht Mir • B2 Feeling Great • B3 To Recover At All • B4 Rainy Day • B4 no dogs barking in the background
Total Playing Time: 41:00

 

Bleib Modern je nemecká kapela usadená v Berlíne. Rovnomenný album vydali BM v roku 2024. Kazetové vydanie má štvorstranný J-card, čierna farba s bielym textom. Vnútro bookletu je zväčšené vyobrazenie obalu. Zaujímavá je kazeta samotná, pretože má priehľadnú mliečnu farbu s názvom kapely vytlačeným čiernym UV printom cez celú jednu stranu. Vyzerá to akoby bolo meno kapely napísané fixou roztrasenou rukou. 

Hudba a konkrétne album Bleib Modern sa nesie v duchu cold-wave a post-punku. Strojové bicie s výraznými basovými motívmi dopĺňajú vysoké gitarové linky a melodické viachlasné spevy v nemčine a angličtine. Tón ústredného hlasu je hlboký a melancholický a výborne zapadá do nálady hudby. Toto je počúvanie na dlhé nočné šoférovanie odľahlými cestami niekde na severe. 

Len na okreaj, serie ma, že som kapelu nevidel na Prague Gothic Treffen v auguste 2025. Kazeta sa dá kúpiť na Bandcampe kapely. 

 

⏭️ ⏭️

4. Aeon Winds - An Ode to the Mountains (2025)

Country: SK
MC Labels: Hexencave Production (hexTK-38) / Into the Night (ITN-MC-06)
Tracklist: A1 Legends and Tales of Old • A2 An Ode to the Mountains • A3 Devoured by Time and Long Forgotten • A4 Unyielding Citadel • A5 Lunar Ascension B1 Molpír • B2 Woodland Labyrinths • B3 Fading Embers • B4 Night Sky Illuminations
Total Playing Time: 1:00:07

 

Aeon Winds nie je pre JDØS neznámou kapelou a recenziu na ich posledný počin An Ode to the Mountains napísal v lete 2025 Lord Belial. Kazetové vydanie albumu vyšlo ako kolaborácia dvoch domácich labelov zameraných hlavne na domácu blackmetalovú tvorbu. Album je nahratý obojstranne na hnedej transparentnej kazete s bielym UV printom. 

Booklet albumu je rozsiahly - plnofarebný 7 panelový J-card s textami, fotografiami a kreditmi albumu - všetko v príjemných pastelových odtieňoch. Kazeta je dostupná na Bandcampovom profile kapely za  7 EUR, čo je skvelá cena za originálny nosič a hodinový album špičkového atmosférického black metalu.

 

 

⏭️ ⏭️

 
5. The Last Days of Jesus - Sepulcrum Christi Viventis (1995)

Krajina: SK 
MC Vydavateľstvo: N/A (samovydanie); 
Zoznam Skladieb: A1 Intro (Prologue) A2 In the Grip of Love A3 Dance of the Wounded Hearts A4 Earthly Voice A5 Dark Side of My Mind B1 Der Trug B2 Bathory Is Dead B3 After the Night B4 Man of Calm (Total Playing Time 47:07)

 

Druhé demo bratislavských gotikov The Last Days of Jesus vyšlo ako samovydanie na limitovanej kazete v roku 1995. Päť skladieb z dema bolo neskôr znovu nahratých a dostali sa na prvý albume kapely Arma Christi, ktorý vyšiel v roku 1997 u nemeckých Alice In... "Arma Christi sme nahrávali prvý krát digital, nie analóg - demáče boli na pás, ak sa pomýliš, dovi, ideš od znova :)" hovorí o nahrávaní Feššy, gitarista a skladateľ TLDOJ. Demo kazeta pochádza z doby, kedy kazety boli ešte štandardným fyzickým nosičom a obľúbeným médiom nielen undergroundu, hoci v mainstreame ho už vytláčali (na tú dobu drahé) CDčka.

 " ... niečo sa mi marí, že sme urobili 100ks. Neviem, či som to nekopíroval z jednej master kazety a každý exemplár zvlášť na dvojkazeťáku :)" spomína frontman Mary0. Booklet kazety je minimalistický, čiernobiele prevedenie na veľmi jemnom (xeroxovom?) papieri - "... to sme vytlačili vo výskumáku, kde som bol na civilke (náhradnej vojenskej službe) a potom som to ručne orezával." pokračuje Mary0.

Booklet obsahuje kompletné texty a kredity k albumu. Zadná lišta má na sebe latinský citát ranokresťanského teológa a rétora Tertulliana "Mortums est Dei filius; credibile est quia incptum est; et sepultus resurrexit: certum est quia impossible est". Tertullianus De Came Christi, čo znamená "Kristus je Boží syn; je to uveriteľné, pretože je to nepochopiteľné; a hoci bol pochovaný, vstal z mŕtvych: je to isté, pretože je to nemožné.“ Tertullianus, O Kristovom tele (De Carne Christi). 

Citát núti poslucháča zamyslieť sa na čo kapela v tej dobe narážala. Zvuk dema pochádza z legendárneho štúdia Exponent v Šulekove, kde v ranných 90s nahrávali skoro všetky domáce punkové a metalové kapely - a je zachovaný na tejto konrétnej kazete, z ktorej bola vyrobená aj digitálna verzia dema pre Bandcamp. Demo kazeta je dnes už raritou a je viac menej nezohnateľná.  

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Links:

https://sircosmos.bandcamp.com/album/unreachable-mountain

https://bleibmodern.bandcamp.com/

https://aeonwinds.bandcamp.com/ 

https://thelastdaysofjesus.bandcamp.com/  

============================================================================ 

 

An excursion into the world of cassette tapes, micro-labels, and self-releases without time limits, where I pick 5 tapes from my own collection and the JDØS distro. If you’d like your tape to appear in the next installment, write me at jabladalekodstromu@gmail.com

December 2025:

1. SÍR - Unreachable Mountain (2025, Fekete Terror Productions)
2. Burial Hex - Mirrors (2025, Nomad Sky Diaries)
3. Bleib Modern - Bleib Modern (2024, Young and Cold Records)
4. Aeon Winds - An Ode to the Mountains (2025, Hexencave Productions / Into the Night)
5. The Last Days of Jesus - Sepulcrum Christi Viventis (1995, samovydanie) 

 

1. SÍR - Unreachable Mountain (2025)

Country: HU
MC Label: Fekete Terror Productions (FTP050)
Tracklist: A1 Last Days • A2 Unreachable Mountain B1 Good Old Hatred • B2 Immersing Intoxicated
Total Playing Time: 41:55

SÍR is a one-man project of the Hungarian multi-instrumentalist performing as Kryptagonist. Unreachable Mountain is his second full-length album, released on cassette by Fekete Terror Records—with whom I traded tapes in November 2025. The tape has a black sticker so the spooled tape isn’t visible, transparent edges, and a 4-panel, double-sided, hand-numbered J-card. The cover features Albert Bierstadt’s painting Among the Sierra Nevada. 

Musically, SÍR delivers melodic doom metal clearly influenced by Black Sabbath, interwoven with death-doom and shoegaze elements. The vocals are mostly clean and melodic, with a strong gothic atmosphere reminiscent of Albert Witchfinder of Reverend Bizarre, giving the album its distinct character. Occasionally they shift into death growls (about 90/10). Some tracks include guest keyboards by Vorgrav. The reverb-heavy snare drum evokes Cathedral’s Forest of Equilibrium.

Overall impression: excellent — the cassette edition, sound, and material are all worth it. A few copies of Unreachable Mountain are available in the JDØS distro.

⏭️ ⏭️

2. Burial Hex - Mirrors (2025)

Country: US
MC Label: Sky Burial (SKY076)
Tracklist: Side After: A1 Mirrors • A2 Phantasus Side Before: B1 Metaxy • B2 Dance of the Jupiter Youth
Total Playing Time: 28:59

Mirrors by American artist Clay Ruby, active as Burial Hex in the drone/electro-ambient scene since 2005, was released on a limited cassette by the Slovak label Nomad Sky Diaries, run by Waldemar—organizer of the Hradby Samoty festival. The cassette has a luxurious design, characteristic of NSD. A thick paper O-card hides the tape case, both in golden tones. The hand-numbered booklet reveals an edition of 76 copies. The thick-paper booklet keeps a minimalist look with single-color print.

The golden tape features inscriptions “Blessing Me” and “Blessing You” on each side. I insert side one into the deck: slow harmonium, drum’n’bass, Native American flutes, and chant-like incantations delivered in a growled voice. This is how I imagine occult shamanic music somewhere in the Mississippi Delta—or on the planet LV-426.

Side two begins differently: a march-like opening track with shouts and a cinematic, celebratory backdrop. Next come chimes and a strange post-apocalyptic Buddhist ritual, where it doesn’t matter which metal plate is struck or in what rhythm. The end returns to an Amazonian nightmare in which the bloodthirsty Mayan god Kukulkan growls—this time without harmonium.

The whole album is a palette of sounds and atmospheres, a classic I would love to see performed at Hradby Samoty. You can get the cassette from NSD, or one copy from the JDØS distro.

⏭️ ⏭️

3. Bleib Modern - Bleib Modern (2024)

Country: DE
MC Label: Young and Cold Records (YCR172)
Tracklist: A1 4theWayDone • A2 Traum / Boy • A3 Everywhere I Go • A4 T.W.T.I.A. • A5 Fremder Junge • A6 Stell Dir Vor B1 Es Geht Mir • B2 Feeling Great • B3 To Recover At All • B4 Rainy Day • B4 no dogs barking in the background
Total Playing Time: 41:00

Bleib Modern is a German band based in Berlin. Their self-titled album was released in 2024. The cassette version features a four-panel J-card, black with white text; the inside expands the cover artwork. The tape itself is striking: a transparent milky color with the band’s name printed in black UV ink across one entire side, looking like shaky handwriting.

Musically, Bleib Modern is rooted in cold-wave and post-punk: machine-like drums, prominent basslines, high guitar melodies, and melodic multi-layered vocals in both German and English. The lead vocal has a deep, melancholic tone that perfectly matches the mood. This is ideal music for long night drives on remote northern roads.

I’m still annoyed I missed them at Prague Gothic Treffen in August 2025. The cassette is available on the band’s Bandcamp.

⏭️ ⏭️

4. Aeon Winds - An Ode to the Mountains (2025)

Country: SK
MC Labels: Hexencave Production (hexTK-38) / Into the Night (ITN-MC-06)
Tracklist: A1 Legends and Tales of Old • A2 An Ode to the Mountains • A3 Devoured by Time and Long Forgotten • A4 Unyielding Citadel • A5 Lunar Ascension B1 Molpír • B2 Woodland Labyrinths • B3 Fading Embers • B4 Night Sky Illuminations
Total Playing Time: 1:00:07

Aeon Winds are no strangers to the JDØS blog, and the review of An Ode to the Mountains was written in summer 2025 by Lord Belial. The cassette release is a collaboration between two Slovak labels focused mainly on local black metal. The album is recorded on both sides of a brown transparent cassette with white UV print.

The booklet is extensive—a full-color 7-panel J-card with lyrics, photos, and credits in pleasant pastel tones. The cassette costs €7 on the band’s Bandcamp, an excellent price for an original physical release and a one-hour atmospheric black metal album.

⏭️ ⏭️

5. The Last Days of Jesus - Sepulcrum Christi Viventis (1995)

Country: SK
MC Label: N/A (self-released)
Tracklist: A1 Intro (Prologue) • A2 In the Grip of Love • A3 Dance of the Wounded Hearts • A4 Earthly Voice • A5 Dark Side of My Mind B1 Der Trug • B2 Bathory Is Dead • B3 After the Night • B4 Man of Calm
Total Playing Time: 47:07

The second demo by Bratislava goth band The Last Days of Jesus was self-released on a limited cassette in 1995. Five tracks were later re-recorded for the band’s debut Arma Christi (1997, Alice In..., Germany). “Arma Christi was our first digital recording, not analog—demos were on tape, and if you messed up, bye, start again :)” recalls Feššy, guitarist and songwriter. The demo comes from a time when cassettes were still a standard medium—not only in the underground, though the mainstream was already shifting to (expensive) CDs.

“I think we made maybe 100 copies. I might have dubbed each one separately from a single master tape on a double-deck cassette recorder :)” says frontman Mary0. The booklet is minimalist: black-and-white print on very thin (xerox?) paper. “We printed it in the research institute where I was doing civil service, then I cut it all by hand,” he adds. It includes full lyrics and credits. The back flap features a Latin quote by early Christian theologian Tertullian:
“Mortums est Dei filius; credibile est quia incptum est; et sepultus resurrexit: certum est quia impossible est.” (from De Carne Christi) — “Christ is the Son of God; it is believable because it is incomprehensible; and though he was buried, he rose again: it is certain because it is impossible.”

The listener is left to reflect on what the band was hinting at in that era. The demo was recorded at the legendary Exponent Studio in Šulekovo, where nearly all local punk and metal bands of the early ’90s recorded, and that sound is preserved on this particular cassette from which the Bandcamp digital version was made. Today, the demo tape is a rarity and essentially unobtainable.