This is the seventh album from these Norwegian black metal veterans.
This is the band’s first album in 12 years, so I think it’s safe to say there’s no small level of expectation riding on this release in some quarters.
Well, they’re returning with no half measures – this album contains 67 minutes of music, spread across 12 original songs plus a Bathory cover.
This is melodic black metal with Continue reading “Ancient – Back to the Land of the Dead (Review)”
This is Australian band King’s debut album. They play black metal.
King is a straightforward, powerfully simple name that is quite refreshing after the increasing complexity of so many new black metal band’s names. Even the logo on the album cover is simple and strong, with no overly complex logo with semi-artistic aspirations. Continue reading “King – Reclaim the Darkness (Review)”
This is a split between two French black metal bands.
Azziard are the first band to show what they can do, and they contribute a near-six minute long war-themed track named Unus Mundus.
Azziard play their black metal dark and evil, full of sharp riffs and even sharper melodies.
The singer rasps and screams his way alongside the relentless blast beats and heartless riffing, showing off his daemonic lungs with fiery abandon. Continue reading “Azziard – Nirnaeth – Dramatis Personae – Split (Review)”
This is the fifteenth album from Countess, a black metal band from the Netherlands.
I enjoy Countess a lot. Both Sermons of the Infidel and Ancient Lies and Battle Cries have been featured on this site previously, and it’s with great pleasure that we now turn to this latest album.
With a slightly rougher sound this time around, these tracks Continue reading “Countess – Fires of Destiny (Review)”
Black Mass 
Pervertor are a Finnish black metal band and this is their debut album.
This is filthy, fast and furious black metal with crust and punk influences. It’s the kind of thing you might expect to come from the black metal underground, appealing to fans of the likes of Impaled Nazarene, Watchmaker and Black Witchery. Phanerosis sees the band carrying on the tradition of short, ugly songs that want to rape and kill you just for fun.
Rooted firmly in the oldest of old schools, Black Mass Pervertor Continue reading “Black Mass Pervertor – Phanerosis (Review)”
This is the debut release from Somnium Nox, a black metal band from Australia.
Somnium Nox are harbingers of esoteric progressive/atmospheric black metal that plays out over one 16 minute track, revealing an expansive tapestry of music that explores the underground world of black metal with aplomb. Continue reading “Somnium Nox – Apocrypha (Review)”
Crowhurst are from the US, and are an extremely prolific band with lots of noise/experimental/etc. releases. Their self titled album from 2015 was especially of interest, as it was essentially a pure black metal album, and a very good one at that.
Fast forward a year, and they have now released II. This continues the black metal theme started by their previously mentioned album, only this time with a wider scope and with industrial/sludge aspects, as well as contributions from members Continue reading “Crowhurst – II (Review)”
This is the second album from Vukari, a post-black metal band from the US.
With such striking album art, my fervent wish was for the album to match the quality of the cover.
My wish was granted.
Vukari play a very modern take on black metal that covers both its atmospheric and post-black metal bases well.
Atmosphere is something that Vukari foster easily, amidst Continue reading “Vukari – Divination (Review)”
Cairiss are an atmospheric/post-black metal band from the UK. This is their debut EP.
Now, here we have something very impressive.
Cairiss’ music is atmospheric metal that takes a good amount of black metal influence but builds on it with post-metal knowledge and application.
The singer has a voice that does the music justice. Her harsh screams are savagery Continue reading “Cairiss – Fall (Review)”
Caïna are a black metal band from the UK. This is their seventh album.
What do you get if you combine raw black metal with industrial and dark ambient? You get Christ Clad in White Phosphorus.
The ugly, intense black metal parts are my favourite bits of this album, as they rage with an underground fury and intensity the likes of which most bands only aspire to. It’s not all about Continue reading “Caïna – Christ Clad in White Phosphorus (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 