Woe – Legacies of Frailty (Review)

Woe - Legacies of FrailtyThis is the fifth album from US black metal one-man band Woe.

Legacies of Frailty is the eagerly awaited follow up to 2017’s Hope Attrition. The Woe of 2023 is aggressive and dark, offering blistering speed and textured power. Across 48 minutes the now-solo act delivers a record that scars the cosmos with its scorching brand of emotive black metal. Continue reading “Woe – Legacies of Frailty (Review)”

Ushangvagush – Pestmo’qon (Review)

Ushangvagush - Pestmo'qonThis is the second album from US solo black metal band Ushangvagush.

Ushangvagush is an indigenous black metal project that channels a range of influences into a single 46-minute song, (chopped into two tracks for physical media). It’s an album of depth and substance, one that’s richly rewarding for those initiated in the ways of underground black metal. Continue reading “Ushangvagush – Pestmo’qon (Review)”

Aset – Astral Rape (Review)

Aset - Astral RapeThis is the debut album from international black metal band Aset.

Featuring members of Seth and Oranssi Pazuzu, Astral Rape is a 43-minute mystical journey that “blends Egyptian occult rites with a modern and aggressive black metal”, according to the promo blurb. Continue reading “Aset – Astral Rape (Review)”

Floodhag/Lust Hag – Hagridden Black Metal – Split (Review)

Floodhag Lust Hag - Hagridden Black Metal - SplitThis is a split between two US solo black metal bands, Floodhag and Lust Hag.

Opening the split is Floodhag, offering up three songs, with a total duration of 12 minutes. Continue reading “Floodhag/Lust Hag – Hagridden Black Metal – Split (Review)”

Blackbraid – Blackbraid II (Review)

Blackbraid - Blackbraid IIThis is the second album from black metal solo act Blackbraid.

Blackbraid I was a very enjoyable album, which showcased the work of a talented new artist. Now though we have the immense Blackbraid II to absorb ourselves in. With a length of 66 minutes,(which includes a Bathory cover), it’s almost double the duration of its predecessor, and reveals that Blackbraid’s debut was no one-hit wonder. Continue reading “Blackbraid – Blackbraid II (Review)”

Valravn – The Awakening (Review)

Valravn - The AwakeningValravn are a Finnish black metal band and this is their second album.

Featuring a current/ex-member of Altar of Betelgeuze/Cardinals Folly, The Awakening contains 44 minutes of expressive black metal. Continue reading “Valravn – The Awakening (Review)”

Loth – 616 (Review)

Loth - 616This is the third album from French black metallers Loth.

Loth play a modern form of atmospheric black metal that nonetheless benefits from history’s tutelage. Across 41 minutes the band capably show what they’re capable of, and 616 is a rewarding album that fans of the style would do very well to spend some time with. Continue reading “Loth – 616 (Review)”

Broken Pillars – Of Pillars and Primordial Myth (Review)

Broken Pillars - Of Pillars and Primordial MythBroken Pillars are an Iranian black metal band, and this is their debut EP.

To start with I’m going to just lazily regurgitate some of the promo blurb for Of Pillars and Primordial Myth, as it sets the scene nicely for this EP – “Broken Pillars’ music can be described as the Persian response to Hellenic black metal. The songs contain slow yet deliberate doomy-sounding guitar riffing accompanied by grandiose symphonic arrangements. The music can be described as chants trying to reawaken an empire lost to the cruelties of time.” Continue reading “Broken Pillars – Of Pillars and Primordial Myth (Review)”

Białywilk – Zmora (Review)

Białywilk - ZmoraThis is the second album from one-man US black metal band Białywilk.

Zmora contains 30 minutes of atmospheric black metal, brought to us by an ex-member of Vukari. On Zmora the artist provides us with a rich expression of atmospheric music. Documenting the struggles of sleep deprivation and insomnia, it’s a journey into Białywilk’s passionate style. Continue reading “Białywilk – Zmora (Review)”