Blakk Old Blood/Black Devotion – Split (Review)

Blakk Old Blood Black DevotionBlakk Old Blood are from Switzerland and Black Devotion are from the US. Both bands play Black Metal and have teamed up for this split release, each contributing one song.

Blakk Old Blood start Continue reading “Blakk Old Blood/Black Devotion – Split (Review)”

Eggs of Gomorrh – Rot Prophet (Review)

Eggs of GomorrhEggs of Gomorrh are a Swiss Black Metal band. This is their début release.

Eggs of Gomorrh play Black Metal with a touch of Death Metal, especially in the vocals, which are as deep and cavernous as they come.

With an unrelentingly bleak sound, the Continue reading “Eggs of Gomorrh – Rot Prophet (Review)”

Enoid – Exilé aux Confins des Tourments (Review)

EnoidThis is the seventh album from this Swiss black metal solo project.

As soon as I press play my attention is hooked by what blares out of the speakers. It’s scything, sharp Black Metal with a tight sound and enough frosted melodies and dark aggression to cut deep into the most jaded of hearts.

Kind of like Anaal Nathrakh crossed with Continue reading “Enoid – Exilé aux Confins des Tourments (Review)”

Sulphur – Omens of Doom (Review)

SulphurThis is the third album from Norwegian black metallers Sulphur.

Here we have an interesting release that combines a few different things into one. Omens of Doom is black metal that adds progressive, sometimes quirky, layers onto the razor-sharp modern style that it employs. Some elements of death metal and the avant-garde get a look in too, all incorporated into the comprehensive song structures.

Continue reading “Sulphur – Omens of Doom (Review)”

Isolert – No Hope, No Light…Only Death (Review)

IsolertIsolert are a Greek Black Metal band and this is their début album.

Their previous demo, Isolated Soul, was one that I enjoyed, and the song Empty Memory (Hate for Mankind) has made it from that release onto this one.

The band play Scandinavian-styled Black Metal. Since their first demo they  Continue reading “Isolert – No Hope, No Light…Only Death (Review)”

Ill Omen/Slaughtbbath – Pestilential Hierophanies – Split (Review)

Ill Omen SlaughtbbathIll Omen is a one-man Black Metal project from Australia and Slaughtbbath are a Black Metal band from Chile. Teaming up for this split release, they each offer one track.

Ill Omen’s contribution is up first and is the longer of the two tracks at 8 minutes in length.

The song Continue reading “Ill Omen/Slaughtbbath – Pestilential Hierophanies – Split (Review)”

Sov – Aklamerad Kalamitet (Review)

SovSov are a Black Metal band and this is their début album.

Sov play underground and honest Black Metal that might superficially seem like the standard fare at first glance, but a deeper scrutiny reveals a band with impressive creative power and a lot of raw talent.

This is an interesting release in that it manages to cultivate an air of both natural forest-dwelling and sophisticated blackened art. The music is suspended between the more naturalistic elements and the modern, progressive influences so that these six tracks are a pleasing blend of the early second-wave style and a more up-to-date interpretation of the genre, à la Watain and Deathspell Omega. Continue reading “Sov – Aklamerad Kalamitet (Review)”

Astral Path – An Oath to the Void (Review)

Astral PathAstral Path are an atmospheric Black Metal band from Canada. This is their début album.

This is the kind of modern, expansive Black Metal that so many bands seem to do so well these days. If you’re a fan of bands like Wolves in the Throne Room, Chaos Moon, Midnight Odyssey, Krallice, Mare Cognitum, Deafheaven and their ilk, then you should also like this.

Astral Path’s music combines this type of stargazing, cosmic Black Metal with ambient soundscapes to create atmospheric Black Metal that seems to roll out of the speakers in a pool of spectral fog. Continue reading “Astral Path – An Oath to the Void (Review)”

Glorior Belli – Sundown (The Flock That Welcomes) (Review)

Glorior BelliThis is the sixth album from French Black Metal band, (currently a solo project it seems), Glorior Belli.

Previous album Gators Rumble, Chaos Unfurls was an uncommon blend of Black Metal, Sludge and southern US Metal riffing. Sundown (The Flock That Welcomes) continues this combination of Black Metal and Sludgy Blues Rock, although now the emphasis is much more on the Black Metal side of the equation.

Featuring sharp and cutting riffs alongside serrated vocals, a lot of the music on this album is dangerously bladed, seemingly out to cause harm with its fast guitars and blackened melodies. Continue reading “Glorior Belli – Sundown (The Flock That Welcomes) (Review)”