Cvinger – Doctrines by the Figures of Črnobog (Review)

Cvinger - Doctrines by the Figures of ČrnobogCvinger are a Slovakian black metal band and this is their third album.

It’s been ten years since Cvinger’s debut EP Monastery of Fallen, so now seems like a good time to see what they’re up to on their third album. With a promo blurb that mentions bands like 1349, Marduk, Mayhem, Gorgoroth, and Morbid Angel, you have a pretty good starting point for Cvinger’s hostile, yet mood-rich assault. Continue reading “Cvinger – Doctrines by the Figures of Črnobog (Review)”

Nixil – From the Wound Spilled Forth Fire (Review)

Nixil - From the Wound Spilled Forth FireNixil are a US black metal band and this is their second album.

From the Wound Spilled Forth Fire presents us with 43 minutes of black metal that is intimately acquainted with a darker side of the style that’s both vicious and mood-rich. Continue reading “Nixil – From the Wound Spilled Forth Fire (Review)”

Pyrkagion – The Katechon and the Unending Fire (Review)

Pyrkagion - The Katechon and the Unending FireThis is the debut EP from US black metal band Pyrkagion.

The Katechon and the Unending Fire is a 26-minute EP consisting of two tracks. Brought to us by members of Bell Witch, Human Effluence, and Hissing, Pyrkagion deliver a strong lesson in modern black metal. Continue reading “Pyrkagion – The Katechon and the Unending Fire (Review)”

The Circle – Of Awakening (Review)

The Circle - Of AwakeningThe Circle are a German black metal band and this is their second album.

Of Awakening is a 33-minute black metal album of sorts that incorporates elements of doom, ambient, symphonic, and post-black metal. While black metal is the obvious tag for this, and it’s superficially the correct one, it doesn’t tell the whole story of Continue reading “The Circle – Of Awakening (Review)”

Nordicwinter – This Mournful Dawn (Review)

Nordicwinter - This Mournful DawnThis is the seventh album from Canadian one-man black metal act Nordicwinter.

After enjoying 2020’s Desolation and 2021’s Sorrow, I was pleased to see This Mournful Dawn appear. I was then surprised when I subsequently found out that the artist has released two other Nordicwinter albums between Sorrow and this new one! Has being this prolific impacted upon quality levels since I last encountered this act? Continue reading “Nordicwinter – This Mournful Dawn (Review)”

Earthen Altar – Earthen Altar (Review)

Earthen Altar - Earthen AltarThis is the debut album from US black metal band Earthen Altar.

Earthen Altar play nature-inspired atmospheric black metal informed by the Cascadian style., but not restricted to it. Earthen Altar contains three tracks with a total duration of 27 minutes. Before we start, prepare yourself, as this is a colossally strong release. Continue reading “Earthen Altar – Earthen Altar (Review)”

Runespell – Shores of Nastrond (Review)

Runespell - Shores of NastrondThis is the fifth album from Australian black metal band Runespell.

I’ve enjoyed following Runespell’s progress over the years, (be sure to check out previous work Unhallowed Blood Oath, Order of Vengeance, Voice of Opprobrium, and Verses in Regicide), so listening to Shores of Nastrond was pretty mandatory. This new album contains 46 minutes of new material, and is also Runespell’s first as a full band, rather than just a solo act, (with current/ex-members of bands like Illimitable Dolor, The Slow Death, and Temple Nightside). Continue reading “Runespell – Shores of Nastrond (Review)”

Ancient Torment/Haxen – The Howling Gale – Split (Review)

Ancient Torment Haxen - The Howling Gale - SplitAncient Torment and Haxen are both US black metal bands, and they have teamed up for this split release.

Ancient Torment, (who feature an ex-member of Abnormality), open the split, with two songs lasting 13 minutes in total. Continue reading “Ancient Torment/Haxen – The Howling Gale – Split (Review)”

Dusk Cult – Night Sky Revelations (Review)

Dusk Cult - Night Sky RevelationsDusk Cult are an Australian black metal band and this is their second album.

Brought to us by members of Be’lakor and Rainshadow, Night Sky Revelations contains 43 minutes of enticing black metal. Dusk Cult have impressed with their brand of blackened extremity. Continue reading “Dusk Cult – Night Sky Revelations (Review)”

Lust Hag – Demo II / Promo 2023 (Review)

Lust Hag - Demo II Promo 2023Lust Hag is a one-woman black metal band from the US, and this is her latest release.

I really liked Mistress in the Mirror, so was pleased to have some more raw nastiness from this artist to digest. Apparently she is becoming quite prolific, as there’s also a Lust Hag split that I somehow missed out on that was released after Mistress in the Mirror. But fear not, as those tracks seem to have made it onto this release. Continue reading “Lust Hag – Demo II / Promo 2023 (Review)”