This is the fifth album from Ellende, a solo black metal band from Austria.
I’ve heard of Ellende for a while, but this is my first encounter with the band. I have to say, I wish I’d paid more attention earlier, as this is sterling stuff. Todbringerin contains 50 minutes of expressive black metal. Continue reading “Ellende – Todbringerin (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Canadian black metallers Spectral Wound.
Songs of Blood and Mire boasts 44 minutes of lethal black metal. Stylistically we’re talking a mixture of the Norwegian, Finnish, and Canadian scenes, so if you’re a fan of bands such as Behexen, Forteresse, Gorgoroth, Sargeist, Tsjuder, etc., then this is for you. Continue reading “Spectral Wound – Songs of Blood and Mire (Review)”
This is the debut album from Wrach, a Welsh solo black metal band.
Quad Infra Volo Videre contains 48 minutes of sinister underground black metal. It’s inspired by the 90s second wave style, but other influences from across the last few decades have been drawn into its malevolent embrace, giving it more of a 00s feel overall. Continue reading “Wrach – Quae Infra Volo Videre (Review)”
This is a split between two US black metal bands, Lust Hag and Reaping Fields.
NEW LUST HAG! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! I dunno what it is with Lust Hag, but I just can’t get enough. Actually, I know exactly what it is – it’s just absolutely killer black metal. This is a split though, and Reaping Fields, as we’ll see, are a revelation. Continue reading “Lust Hag/Reaping Fields – Prayers Unanswered – Split (Review)”
This is the third album from one-man Australian black metal act Aquilus.
Bellum II is the 59-minute follow up to 2021’s well-received Bellum I. In much the same vein as its predecessor, Bellum II is an atmospheric black metal album that makes heavy use of classical influences as well as some folk elements, although this simplistic description does not do the material here ample justice. Continue reading “Aquilus – Bellum II (Review)”
This is the fourth album from UK black metallers Gråt Strigoi.
Despite being four albums deep into their career, I’ve never heard of Gråt Strigoi before the wonderful Fiadh Productions put them on my radar. It’s seriously been my loss, as this stuff is so far up my alley it hurts. The Prophetic Silence contains 56 minutes of black metal that’s so good you should just stop reading this now and go and listen to it. Continue reading “Gråt Strigoi – The Prophetic Silence (Review)”
This is the second album from US black metal band Mnajdra.
Following hot on the heels of last year’s self titled debut comes In the Name of the Goddess; 50 minutes of apocalyptic modern black metal. Mnajdra’s malefic music has ascended to a higher level of spectral might with this new album. Continue reading “Mnajdra – In the Name of the Goddess (Review)”
Svartelder are a Norwegian black metal band and this is their third album.
Svartelder contain current/ex-members of bands such as 1349, Den Saakaldte, Doedsvangr, Enepsigos, From the Vastland, Gaahls Wyrd, Horizon Ablaze, Nattverd, Nordjevel, and others, which is a lot of talent all in one place. Does the 38* minutes of material we find on Trenches live up to the promise that this collective experience brings with it? Continue reading “Svartelder – Trenches (Review)”
This is the debut album from US one-woman black/death metal band Gun Girl.
What’s this? Another project by the same artist that brought us the amazing Lust Hag? Sign me up! Vengeant Siege of Unholy Divinity is 24 minutes of ugliness and mayhem. It’s harsh and unforgiving, and just wants to destroy. Continue reading “Gun Girl – Vengeant Siege of Unholy Divinity (Review)”
This is the fifth album from Swiss black metallers Coldcell.
Following on from 2021’s The Greater Evil, Age of Unreason contains 47 minutes of new material from Coldcell. Age of Unreason offers up a compelling modern black metal vision. It’s a heavily atmospheric and ritualistic one, combining elements of the atmospheric and post-black metal styles into an orthodox framework. Continue reading “Coldcell – Age of Unreason (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 