Versatile – Les Litanies du Vide (Review)

Versatile - Les Litanies du VideThis is debut album from Swiss industrial black metal band Versatile.

I did something unusual with this album – I went into it completely fresh, without hearing anything from them at all. I normally sample everything first to see if it’s my thing or not, but here a combination of the album cover and logo made me just want to listen to it, regardless. What did I find? Continue reading “Versatile – Les Litanies du Vide (Review)”

Enevelde – Pandemonium (Review)

Enevelde - PandemoniumThis is the third album from Enevelde, a Norwegian solo black metal band.

Following on from 2020’s Enevelde and 2023’s En Gildere DødPandemonium delivers 38 minutes of new material from the artist behind Enevelde. It’s both an unforgiving and immersive record, one destined I fear for underground obscurity, rather than the wider acclaim it deserves. Continue reading “Enevelde – Pandemonium (Review)”

Tómarúm – Beyond Obsidian Euphoria (Review)

Tómarúm - Beyond Obsidian EuphoriaThis is the second album from US black/death metal band Tómarúm.

2022’s Ash in Realms of Stone Icons was a one of the best of the year, so anticipation has been high for the new one from Tómarúm. Will Beyond Obsidian Euphoria‘s 69 minutes have the same impact as its predecessor? Continue reading “Tómarúm – Beyond Obsidian Euphoria (Review)”

Verheerer – Urgewalt (Review)

Verheerer - UrgewaltVerheerer are a German black metal band and this is their third album.

I enjoyed 2018’s Maltrér, as well as its 2019 follow up Monolith. In fact, I thought I had reviewed the latter too, but apparently not. Well, it’s been six years, and now we have the 52-minute Urgewalt, and I’m not going to miss writing about this little gem. Continue reading “Verheerer – Urgewalt (Review)”

Wrath of Logarius – Crown of Mortis (Review)

Wrath of Logarius - Crown of MortisThis is the debut album from US black metallers Wrath of Logarius.

Crown of Mortis contains 37 minutes of modern black metal, incorporating elements of death metal to make a highly compelling whole. Continue reading “Wrath of Logarius – Crown of Mortis (Review)”

Deafheaven – Lonely People with Power (Review)

Deafheaven - Lonely People with PowerThis is the sixth album from US post-black metal/blackgaze band Deafheaven.

Lonely People with Power contains 62 minutes of music, and finds Deafhaven in masterful form. If you’re familiar with Deafheaven at all, as you hopefully are, this new record is essentially a culmination of everything they have done so far, resulting in an album that’s well-rounded, affecting, and quite brilliant. Continue reading “Deafheaven – Lonely People with Power (Review)”

Ninkharsag – The Black Swords of Winter (Review)

Ninkharsag - The Black Swords of WinterThis is the latest EP from UK black metallers Ninkharsag.

This has been a long time coming. In a similar way to the recent Abduction album Existentialismus, I saw Ninkharsag play songs from this release live back in February 2024, but it’s only now seeing the light of day. Has it been worth the wait to hear Ninkharsag’s brand of melodic black metal once more? Continue reading “Ninkharsag – The Black Swords of Winter (Review)”

Imperial Triumphant – Goldstar (Review)

Imperial Triumphant - GoldstarThis is the sixth album from US avant-garde black/death metal band Imperial Triumphant.

Imperial Triumphant always make a fascinating record. Check out any of their albums, (such as 2020’s Alphaville or 2022’s Spirit of Ecstasy and you’ll be in an unfamiliar world of avant-garde experimentation and gilded individuality. Continue reading “Imperial Triumphant – Goldstar (Review)”

Osgraef – Reveries of the Arcane Eye (Review)

Osgraef - Reveries of the Arcane EyeOsgraef are a black/death metal band and this is their debut album.

Osgraef mix black, death, doom, and war metal into a 42-minute expression of mysterious brutality. Reveries of the Arcane Eye is a ball of raging potency and deep obscure atmosphere. Continue reading “Osgraef – Reveries of the Arcane Eye (Review)”

Aran Angmar – Ordo Diabolicum (Review)

Aran Angmar - Ordo DiabolicumAran Angmar are an international, (Greece/Italy/Netherlands), black metal band and this is their third album.

Featuring the vocalist of the mighty Saille, Ordo Diabolicum contains 43 minutes of second wave black metal, enriched by folk and atmospheric elements. A mix of the Scandinavian and Greek scenes in style, if you’ve encountered Aran Angmar previously, this is a newly evolved and accomplished version of the band. Continue reading “Aran Angmar – Ordo Diabolicum (Review)”