Acceptance – Crucifixion of Orchids (Review)

Acceptance - Crucifixion of OrchidsAcceptance are a post-black metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Previously known as Fatalist, (with an album under that name, so whether this is their first or second I suppose is up for debate), Acceptance exist at an interesting intersection between atmospheric black metal, sludge, blackgaze, and post-rock. Continue reading “Acceptance – Crucifixion of Orchids (Review)”

Ahamkara – The Harrow of the Lost (Review)

Ahamkara - The Harrow of the LostThis is the second album by UK black metal band Ahamkara.

I’ve been waiting for a new Ahamkara album since 2014, which is a shockingly long time to wait for anything. The Embers of the Stars was a damn good album though, so now that a new record is here, it was not one I wanted to overlook. Unfortunately, it seems there was a good reason for this delay, as the promo blurb tells us – “Following ten years of silence after the release of their debut album “The Embers of the Stars” and the untimely death of vocalist Steven, Ahamkara return with a new lineup and new album “The Harrow of the Lost”, an unflinching exploration of the transformative nature of grief.” Continue reading “Ahamkara – The Harrow of the Lost (Review)”

Silver Knife – Silver Knife (Review)

Silver Knife - Silver KnifeSilver Knife are an international post-black metal band and this is their second album.

Silver Knife is the 47-minute successor to 2020’s well-received Unyielding/Unseeing. Containing the extremely busy and talented Déhà, as well as current/ex-members of Burial Remains, Laster, Monads, Paramnesia, and Vuur & Zijde, Silver Knife is an album with a lot of experience poured into it, and it shows. Continue reading “Silver Knife – Silver Knife (Review)”

Serpentes – Desert Psalms (Review)

Serpentes - Desert PsalmsSerpentes are a Portuguese black metal band and this is their debut album.

Brought to us by current/ex-members of Angrenost, Misþyrming, Naðra, Skáphe, and Svartidauði, Desert Psalms contains 46 minutes of malicious black metal. Continue reading “Serpentes – Desert Psalms (Review)”

Svnth – Pink Noise Youth (Review)

Svnth - Pink Noise YouthSvnth are an Italian blackgaze band and this is their fourth album.

I’ve enjoyed watching Svnth develop over the years, back when they were called Seventh Genocide on 2017’s Toward Akina and 2018’s Svnth, and then when they changed their name for 2020’s Spring in Blue, which was their strongest outing yet, even making it onto my year end list. Which brings us, five years and a lineup change later, to the 37-minute Pink Noise Youth. Continue reading “Svnth – Pink Noise Youth (Review)”

Blood Abscission – I I (Review)

Blood Abscission - I IThis is the second album from black metal band Blood Abscission.

I I contains 41 minutes of black metal that’s melodic and atmospheric. However, this is such a simple description for something so exceptional. Blood Abscission have created a record that’s destined to stay with me for some time. Holy crap this is good. Continue reading “Blood Abscission – I I (Review)”

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)”