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)”

Belial’s Throne – Forgotten Land of the Lost Souls (Review)

Belial's Throne - Forgotten Land of the Lost SoulsThis is the debut album from Irish/international black metallers Belial’s Throne.

Featuring the drummer of Coscradh, Forgotten Land of the Lost Souls contains 36 minutes of good quality second wave black metal. Continue reading “Belial’s Throne – Forgotten Land of the Lost Souls (Review)”

Weald and Woe – For the Good of the Realm (Review)

Weald and Woe - For the Good of the RealmThis is the second album from US black metallers Weald and Woe.

Weald and Woe play a medieval folk-influenced brand of melodic black metal. Across 37 minutes they craft an album of ancient atmosphere and blackened hooks. Continue reading “Weald and Woe – For the Good of the Realm (Review)”

Marduk – Memento Mori (Review)

Marduk - Memento MoriMarduk are a Swedish black metal band and this is their fifteenth album.

Memento Mori contains 42 minutes of passionately crafted blackened intensity. It’s like bottled chaos and frenzied mayhem, with moments of dark storms and nightmare worldbuilding. Yep, Marduk are back. Continue reading “Marduk – Memento Mori (Review)”

Boréalys – L’heritage (Review)

Borealys - L'heritageThis is the debut album from Canadian black metal band Boréalys.

L’heritage brings us 61-minutes of atmospheric black metal. Boréalys have produced an enjoyable slice of mournful black metal that recommends itself well. Continue reading “Boréalys – L’heritage (Review)”

Baxaxaxa – De Vermis Mysteriis (Review)

Baxaxaxa - De Vermis MysteriisBaxaxaxa are a German black metal band and this is their second album.

Featuring members of Runespell and Ungod, Baxaxaxa play black metal with sinister atmosphere and wicked groove. De Vermis Mysteriis contains 41 minutes of atavistic blackened character. Continue reading “Baxaxaxa – De Vermis Mysteriis (Review)”