Wonderbox Metal gets sent a lot of new music, (which is great), but there’s no way that everything can get covered unfortunately, (which is not so great). This column hopes to redress this balance, if only slightly, by taking a look at a handful of releases that a record label has recently sent out that might have otherwise slipped through the cracks.
Surprisingly, I haven’t done one of these columns since 2022! I was genuinely shocked when I realised this recently. So, it seemed like the perfect time to revisit it, and to get caught up on some of Avantgarde Music‘s releases. This is a label I rate highly, and never seem to get enough time to adequately cover, so here’s three new albums all seeing the light of day on January 31st 2025.
Selvans – Saturnalia – Black Metal – Italy
Saturnalia is a progressive black metal album, one that splices its blackened DNA with genes from folk, progressive rock, and heavy metal. This is apparently the final Selvans album, which is a shame as the music betrays a notable amount of talent.
Boasting an orchestra and a choir, this is an ambitious release. It’s filled with layered songwriting and delivery. It melds together heavy metal flair, 70s progressive rock soundtrack qualities, epic symphonic black metal atmosphere, and a firm touch for the dramatic and theatrical. It’s blackened, symphonic, progressive, quirky, and charismatic. It’s also remarkably good fun.
The artist behind Selvans has produced something quite unusual here. It’s a melting pot of influences that works due to the skill and vision of its guiding hands. If you’re looking for something a bit out of the ordinary, then this is for you.
Skaldr – Saṃsṛ – Black Metal – USA
Skaldr play old-school 90s second wave black metal – strong on melody, and immersive in grim auras. With bands such as Dissection and Windir mentioned in the promo blurb, as well as the use of folk influences, you should have a good idea of what Saṃsṛ has to offer.
It’s fast and melodic, with blackened vocals that sound straight out of the style’s golden era, and a selection of rhythm guitars that hit the spot. The melodies are frequently the initial draw, but the rest of the music doesn’t hide behind them. It’s nicely atmospheric as well, and I’d say that the Dissection/Windir comparison is spot on. There’s a few unexpected elements thrown in here and there too, showing that Skaldr aren’t interested in simply replaying past glories, (the string section at the start of Storms Collide is wonderful, as one example, or the ominous clean chanting in The Cinder, the Flame, the Sun, as another).
I have to say, Skaldr seem to know what they’re doing with the style. A moreish album that gets better with each listen, Saṃsṛ is an easy album to recommend to anyone into the more melodic side of the black metal style.
Check it out.
Void of Hope – Proof of Existence – Black Metal – Finland
So, depressive black metal brought to us by members of Moonlight Sorcery and Ondfødt? Sign me up! I should say though that Void of Hope provide us with more than your standard depressive black metal act typically does on Proof of Existence; this is a well-rounded atmospheric slice of blackened worldbuilding.
Rich in atmospheric immersion, the songs nonetheless also value riffs and aggressive bite. The anguished vocals are full of feeling, while the rest of the music, rendered in a gorgeous full-bodied blackened production, provides texture and depth to the singer’s pained screaming. The keyboards are spacious and rich, and the melodies deeply forlorn. You can even hear, and feel, the presence of the bass.
Void of Hope have delivered a really enjoyable album in Proof of Existence. Full of dark emotion and absorbing blackened personality, Void of Hope have impressed.
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