For me, October was all about the black metal. Sure, there were some very fine non-black metal releases, but I’ve decided to focus below on albums that are all different blackened variants in their own dark ways. Enjoy!
Let us start with Anaal Nathrakh’s latest violent masterpiece Endarkenment. Now here’s an album filled with raging anger twinned with the sort of catchy cleans that will stick in your mind for years to come. An intoxicating combination.
Abreaction by Amiensus is an album of atmosphere and emotion, tastefully crafted with loving care and attention to detail. This is heavily atmospheric blackened art shot through with an icy aggressive streak. With quality levels through the roof, Amiensus impressed.
Another band that impressed were Lord Almighty with their thundering mix of black metal, crust, sludge, and rock. Diverse of influence, catchy of tune, and full of savage barbed hooks, Wither is an album that doesn’t stop giving.
Next we’ll take a look at the mighty A Romance with Violence by Wayfarer. Yep, Wayfarer have really outdone themselves this time. Their latest is the crown in their career so far; a textured, layered mix of blackened brutality and folk-inspired mood.
Entropy Created Consciousness returned in October with a highly immersive album, (okay, double EP), that sucks you into its dark depths and smothers you with oppressively bleak atmosphere. Not for the weak of heart, Antica Memoria di Dis: Acheron & Lethe is a journey into grim malevolence.
Arkheron Thodol’s Rituals of the Sovereign Heart swept me away with its highly textured and epic take on atmospheric black metal. Full of moments of beauty and striking depth, Arkheron Thodol have outdone themselves on their latest album.
We’ll end with the blackened post-metal of Ba’al’s Elipsism. Now here’s an album that vastly exceeded my expectations, almost seemingly coming out of nowhere to steal a place in the company of the best of this year so far. I can’t praise this highly enough.
Wonderbox Metal 