Black metal – Page 168 – Wonderbox Metal

Countess – Ancient Lies And Battle Cries (Review)

Hailing form the Netherlands, this is the new album by Countess, their 14th in fact, I believe.

This is the follow up to last year’s Sermons of the Infidel, where I was introduced to their individualistic, dare I say it, chirpy, brand of Black Metal. I have been looking forward to seeing what they serve up this time.

Within a few scant seconds of pressing play Countess confirm that they haven’t changed and they are, in fact, just as unique and special as they’ve always been. Hurrah!

The same distinctive vocals layer the music, and the same NWOBHM-influenced Black Metal underpins everything nicely.

There are two main differences between this and Sermons of the Infidel. The first is that Ancient Lies and Battle Cries has a few longer songs on it, and these have a bit of a nice Progressive feel to them in addition to the NWOBHM feeling. The second is the sound the band have on this recording – they sound absolutely huge! A really massive production rounds off the release and the songs sound positively buzzing due to it.

The songs remain absurdly catchy and the tracks have an astounding amount of depth and longevity in them for relatively simple compositions. This is the joy and the gift of Metal in the hands of masters.

I don’t have any of the older Countess material, sadly, but they have made a life-long fan of me nonetheless just with these last two releases alone. I won’t even pretend to be objective about this – Countess are just brilliant.

Shrike – Sieben (Review)

This is the third album from Germany’s Black Metallers Shrike.

Shrike impress with their unusual sound which is one of a band barely held together by their enthusiasm for their art, whilst concurrently holding it together long enough to breathe life into the 5 cold, dark tracks they offer us here.

There is a real authenticity and honesty to Shrike, and the lack of spit and polish on the songs is a plus as they live and pulse with an organic vitality that just wouldn’t necessarily be there if the band worked differently.

The songs are relatively varied and full of ideas for what is essentially primitive Black Metal. It’s a tribute to the band that they successfully inject a bit of personality into the genre and do their own thing with it.

At just over 30 minutes this is an enjoyable Black Metal album that has an elusive, intangible special ingredient that keeps you returning for more.

Favourite Track: Von den Farben der Sehnsucht. A very well constructed and nuanced song.

Bloodthirst – Chalice of Contempt (Review)

Poland’s Bloodthirst play Black/Thrash Metal with a hard edge.

This is harsh music that positively bursts forth with pure belligerence and arrogance.

For all their severity they also find the time to introduce some melodies and leads into the proceedings which provide depth and interest.

The addition of Blackened riffs and blastbeats into the Thrash Metal template is a welcome change from the hordes of Thrash bands who all want to be Testament. Some songs are more Thrash-based than others, while others sport this Black Metal influence more openly.

In fact, sometimes I’m torn between describing them as a Blackened Thrash band, or a Thrashy Black Metal band. Not that it really matters, but it demonstrates that they do something more with the the Thrash template than simply repeating what others have done before them. Either way; it’s Metal to the core.

The vocals are abrasive and uncompromising, falling more into the Black Metal camp than the traditional Thrash one. Snarling and raging; they’re not to be underestimated.

A very good album – give it a listen.

Chiral – Winter Eternal (Review)

This is the first demo release from Chiral, from Italy.

For a demo the sound is better than you might expect.

The music is melodic and frozen Black Metal with utterly dark, deep, guttural Death Metal utterances bubbling just undeneath. Occasional screams break the surface and leave ripples of discontent where they appear.

Old-School Swedish Black/Death Metal influences can be heard, but these are not plagiarised, merely used for passionate inspiration.

The demo cover reinforces the cold nature of the music, with the shrouded sun promising a brief hint of hope amongst a forlorn scene, characterised in the songs by the melodic riffs vying for position with the darker, icy aura.

Three tracks, 10 minutes in length. Very enjoyable for the short time it’s with us. I look forward to seeing what comes next from Chiral.

Whitby Bay – Unextinguishable Candle (Review)

Whitby Bay are from the UK and play Black Metal.

At only 4:30 this is a very short release, with a raw sound and a rawer temperament.

The first track Unextinguishable Candle is fast and underground, with rasped vocals over razor riffs and blasting drums. They still find room for a small bit of minor melody near the end of the track and even round things off with some deep growling.

The slightly longer second song Black Cape is not as blasting and has more rhythm and, dare I say it, catchiness. Riffs turn unexpectedly and rise/fall in line with the drums. After it descends briefly into noise it returns mid-paced, icily melodic and with a very manageable riff that works well.

Short and to the point, this shows great promise for the future. Ones to keep an eye on I feel.

Infestus – The Reflecting Void (Review)

Coming from Germany, Infestus play sophisticated Black Metal.

This is complex and multi-faceted music that explores a multitude of feelings and emotional states throughout the 54 minutes playing time. It’s state-of-the-art Black Metal with a top quality sound and a will to succeed.

The songs are reflective of this nature and excel at delivering emotive, dynamic, Blackened compositions that show off the talent of the powerful mind behind the band.

Dark melodies and riffs that bleed strength and emotion crackle and cascade across your consciousness as your intellect feebly struggles to comprehend the vastness of the infinite mysteries of the hidden night.

The impressive soundscapes that make up these 8 tracks are writ large against this darkened canvas and are brought to full technicolour life in brazen shades of mortality and buried life.

Each song brings a new experience to the fold and wields forbidden knowledge like one who was born to an esoteric existence, dedicated to withholding such dark arts from the unworthy masses.

This is elite music in all senses of the word. This is Infestus’ magnum opus. This is essential.

Dead in the Manger – Transience (Review)

Screaming out of the US, Dead in the Manger are an unholy fusion of Black Metal and Grind.

This release is 18 minutes of pure depression and hatred in equal measure.

Unusually the band juxtapose Funeral/Depressive Black Metal against furious Blackened Grindcore. It works due to a skilful weaving together of the two usually disparate genres.

The slow misery of the haunting opening track gives way to the savage, focused Grind of the second. The third and fourth combine aspects of both styles in a way that’s a welcome breath of stinking air; savage Blackened Grind colliding with dirge-like riffs and miserably anger. The fifth is a haunting interlude of samples and dark atmosphere, while the final, (and longest), track is blistering and solemn; blastbeats rage over sorrowful chords.

And what of the vocals? Black Metal to the core. Like static being vomited up by a diseased corpse. Perfect.

Dead in the Manger are hopefully not transient, hopefully they will be with us for some time yet.

Frozen Dawn – Those of the Cursed Light (Review)

Frozen Dawn are a Spanish Black Metal band with a penchant for all things Swedish.

The band are influenced by bands such as Watain, Naglfar and Dissection, and as such the guitars are scything and icy, with the vocals as sharp as a barb and a solid rhythmic underpinning.

Frozen Dawn have a good grasp of melodics and the tunes melt through the hands like thawing snow.

A lot of these songs are surprisingly catchy; tracks like Blackened March have infections guitar riffs and Blackened grooves to die for. This is a theme repeated throughout the 53 minutes of this enjoyable album.

The band ably create the atmosphere of a Blackened winter’s day, with ice crystals as far as the horizon.

A good album, and recommended. Give them a listen.

Invertia – Another Scheme of the Wicked (Review)

Invertia are from the US and play Industrial Black Metal.

This is a release of two halves – the first five tracks are the album songs, and then the second five tracks are the album songs remixed. Side A and a Side B if you like, with Side B being longer than the first.

This is inventive and oppressive as only the best of Black Metal can be.

As extreme as this is they still know how to write songs. As warped and twisted as they are, and also know a good hook when they hear one.

The heavy effects, samples and noise conspire with the Black Metal core to create a claustrophobic and dense listening experience that coils around your brain and won’t let go until you have sworn blind fealty and obedience.

The tracks offer a bruising Industrial pounding with their blackened atmosphere, and there is a fair amount of variety on these tracks that it almost seems like different bands playing sometimes. It certainly seems like they have about five vocalists. Don’t mistake this as criticism though, this is a top release.

And all this is even before we get to Side B; the remixes.

I’m not normally a fan of remixes, as they are rarely done well, (in my experience). Here is an exception though as these reinterpretations of the originals feel like a continuance of the album and a further exploration into the dark psyche of the band, rather than being some novelty just tacked onto the end of a release, as is so often the case.

Intriguing, harsh and exciting; this is an album to keep returning to.

Aurora Borealis – World Shapers (Review)

Aurora Borealis are from the US and play Black Metal with a Death Metal influence. This is the sixth album from this underrated veteran band.

I’m already a fan of this band so was eagerly looking forward to getting my grubby mitts on this one. Aurora Borealis have always been one of those band who have managed to be brutal, melodic, extreme and catchy all at the same time, and this new album of theirs is no exception.

The drums speed by like carpet bombs going off and the guitars are as razor sharp as always.

The vocals are harsh croaks that sound way better than they probably should and the vocalist always seems to come up with interesting rhythms and patterns for his voice.

The songs are no disappointment, with each one providing the riffs and melodies needed, as well us the right combination of brutality and restraint necessary for involving songs. The tracks are mainly in the 4:00-5:00 range and allow each song to develop and breathe without losing focus.

Another exemplary album of brutal Black Metal from this group of experts.