Todtgelichter – Rooms (Review)

TodtgelichterThis is the fifth album from Todtgelichter, who play progressive/avant-garde black metal.

Rooms comes across as a combination of Enslaved and Madder Mortem, with a side-order of some of Arcturus‘ work. The resultant mix reminds of a post-black metal version of Obscure Sphinx. Which, considering who good Obscure Sphinx are, is an exciting proposition.

The music generally fuses elements of Continue reading “Todtgelichter – Rooms (Review)”

Infernal Diatribe – Videha Mukti (Review)

Infernal DiatribeThis is the début release from Infernal Diatribe, an Indian black metal band.

This is occult black metal, played with grim atmospheres and morbid delight.

Videha Mukti has a very satisfying production, with the drums in particular coming across well. Whether the drummer is throwing out blast beats, providing a firm double bass bedrock or merely playing a solid beat, it all gives the blackened Continue reading “Infernal Diatribe – Videha Mukti (Review)”

Strafk – Entomophobia (Review)

StrafkStrafk are a Russian black metal band and this is their second EP.

Their début EP, Phaseshifting, was experimental black metal, all dark, menacing guitars and free-form malevolence.

There are two tracks on this new release, with the entire EP lasting under 10 minutes in total, and it has a different feel to it than Phaseshifting.

Up first is a track named Φόβος, and starts off with a sinister Continue reading “Strafk – Entomophobia (Review)”

VIII – Decathexis (Review)

VIIIThis is the second album from VIII, an Italian black metal band.

VIII have produced an ambitious release that spans 50 minutes across three sprawling, ugly tracks. This is not an album for people who like polished, shiny music. Oh no. This is the sound of dying, decay and forgotten dreams.

Decathexis sees the band playing raw, underground black metal with a mean, dispirited edge. Alongside the Continue reading “VIII – Decathexis (Review)”

Harrower – Remembrance (Review)

HarrowerHarrower are from the US and play black metal.

Harrower play a raw form of black metal that occasionally branches out into post-metal waters.

Remembrance sounds cold and sharp, and has a lot more of a raw, underground feeling than a lot of black metal bands that also dabble in post-black metal. I think it works really well, and the sound they Continue reading “Harrower – Remembrance (Review)”

Wayfarer – Old Souls (Review)

WayfarerThis is the second album from this US atmospheric post-black metal band.

Children of the Iron Age introduced us to Wayfarer’s quality, interesting black metal and was a pretty damn stunning début album in many ways.

Old Souls is not as long as their first album, (18 minutes shorter), but we still get some epic, sprawling tracks.

Wayfarer have a Continue reading “Wayfarer – Old Souls (Review)”

Sheidim – Shrines of the Void (Review)

SheidimSheidim are a Spanish black metal band and this is their début album.

This is orthodox black metal with a modern coating and a matching cover. It’s extreme, passionate, vicious and venomous.

Sheidim’s music is heavy and full of darkness, injecting streaks of colour through the blackened melodies that burn with intensity and passion, as does the band’s music as a whole.

Shrines of the Void is powerfully Continue reading “Sheidim – Shrines of the Void (Review)”

Black Fucking Cancer – Black Fucking Cancer (Review)

Black Fucking CancerThis is the début album from Black Fucking Cancer, a US black metal band.

Due to the name of this band I was expecting short, punky, excrement-filled black metal lasting probably no longer than about 20 minutes. What we actually get is a full 60 minutes of hate-powered misanthropy and perversion, courtesy of these blackened maniacs.

This is ugly music that the band manage to stretch out Continue reading “Black Fucking Cancer – Black Fucking Cancer (Review)”

Wolfpack 44 – The Scourge (Review)

Wolfpack 44Wolfpack 44 are an industrial black metal band from the US. This is their début album.

This is a side project between members of Kult of Azazel and The Electric Hellfire Club, featuring guests from such bands as The Electric Hellfire Club, (again), Demonic Christ, Dark Funeral and Coven.

The Scourge is an album with a lot going on, and the band manage to Continue reading “Wolfpack 44 – The Scourge (Review)”