Dratna is a solo black metal band from Northern Ireland and this is his second album.
I enjoyed 2020’s Druid Winds & the Fall of the Celtic Gods, but missed Dratna’s debut album, so Fomóraigh is the perfect opportunity for me to catch back up with the band. The 39 minutes of material on the album reveals a well-rounded and well-developed slice of atmospheric black metal. Continue reading “Dratna – Fomóraigh (Review)”
This is the tenth album from legendary Norwegian black metal band Immortal.
Whereas on 2018’s Northern Chaos Gods Immortal were a duo, on War Against All the band have now been slimmed down further to just one original member, and is now essentially a solo act, albeit with session musicians, (from Enslaved and Gaahls Wyrd). Continue reading “Immortal – War Against All (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Finnish black metal act Ondfødt.
I always enjoy catching up with Ondfødt. 2014’s Hexkonst, 2019’s Dödsrikets Kallelse, and 2021’s Norden are all records that I enjoyed, so it made sense for me to want to check out Det Österbottniska Mörkret too. I’ll say upfront that this has turned out to be Ondfødt’s most professional, accomplished, and enjoyable record. Continue reading “Ondfødt – Det Österbottniska Mörkret (Review)”
Kostnatění is a one-man black metal band from the US and this is his second album.
Containing 40 minutes of unconventional black metal, Úpal is an atypical release that merges different genres and sounds into a blackened whole. A clash of cold, harsh dissonance and vibrant, melodic folk influences from around the globe, Úpal is a record that’s striking and impactful. Continue reading “Kostnatění – Úpal (Review)”
This is the third album from US black metal band Cloak.
Cloak play black metal with melodic weight and malevolent guitars, yet do so with their own personality that betrays a healthy classic metal influence. Black Flame Eternal is a 49-minute journey into the band’s dark world. Continue reading “Cloak – Black Flame Eternal (Review)”
This is the debut album from one-man black metal band Hasard.
Malivore contains 45 minutes of dark, nightmarish black metal. It’s a dissonant, avant-garde style, infected with bleak atmosphere and classical symphonic influences. For a rough guide, think of bands such as Ævangelist, Abyssal, Akhlys, and Blut Aus Nord. Continue reading “Hasard – Malivore (Review)”
Nattehimmel are an international, (Norway/UK), black metal band and this is their debut album.
Featuring current and ex-members of Emancer, Ewigkeit, Green Carnation, In the Woods…, Old Forest, and The Meads of Asphodel, Mourningstar is a 45-minute journey into 90s black metal that’s nostalgic, yet still relevant, and has a few detours too. Continue reading “Nattehimmel – Mourningstar (Review)”
This is the debut album from US black metal band Mnajdra.
From out of nowhere comes Mnajdra, a 44-minute slice of underworld darkness. This is thick, unfriendly black metal that has subsumed elements of doom and sludge into itself to better portray the utter bleakness and horror of existence. Continue reading “Mnajdra – Mnajdra (Review)”
This is the debut album from solo Irish black metal band Verzauber.
Containing a colossal 80 minutes of material, Frankincense & Vitriol is an extended undertaking, with epic-length songs that are full of immersive content. Verzauber’s primary style is that of raw atmospheric black metal, and within and alongside this a few different influences can be felt, resulting in a well-textured and detailed work. Continue reading “Verzauber – Frankincense & Vitriol (Review)”
Thanatomass are a black metal band from Russia and this is their debut album.
Ever wondered what 44 minutes of elemental blackened cruelty and severity sounds like? Then wonder no more, as on Hades Thanatomass bring us an album that’s surely the aural equivalent of the underworld after which it is named. Continue reading “Thanatomass – Hades (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 