This is the sixth album from German black metal band Der Weg Einer Freiheit.
Innern is the greatly anticipated follow up to 2017’s Finisterre and 2021’s Noktvrn, the latter placing prominently on my 2021 end of year list, (which in retrospect Finisterre should also have done in 2017). It’s safe to say that I’ve been excitedly looking forward to this new record, especially after seeing the band at last year’s Fortress Festival. Continue reading “Der Weg Einer Freiheit – Innern (Review)”
LVTHN are a Belgian black metal band and this is their second album.
LVTHN play occult black metal that’s dark and obscure. The Devil’s Bridge contains 43 minutes of their esoteric brand of sonic violence, delivering both an aggressive blackened assault and grim ritualistic atmosphere. Continue reading “LVTHN – The Devil’s Bridge (Review)”
This is the twelfth album from French one-man black metal band Esoctrilihum.
It’s always a pleasure to get a new Esoctrilihum release. If you’re familiar with the artist’s past work, (such as 2018’s Pandaemorthium (Forbidden Formulas to Awaken the Blind Sovereigns of Nothingness), 2021’s Dy’th Requiem for the Serpent Telepath, 2022’s Consecration of the Spiritüs Flesh, 2023’s Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac, or 2024’s Döth-Dernyàlh), you’ll know that you never quite know quite what to expect from this prolific and idiosyncratic artist. What does the 87-minute Ghostigmatah – Spiritual Rites of the Psychopomp Abxulöm have in store for us? Continue reading “Esoctrilihum – Ghostigmatah – Spiritual Rites of the Psychopomp Abxulöm (Review)”
This is the third album from US solo symphonic black/death metal act Tine.
Tine made a very positive impression on me with 2015’s The Forest Dreams of Black, and followed this up well with 2022’s Mergae Maris Profundi. As such, it’s with expectation that we turn to the 42 minutes of new material that A Winter Horrorscape provides us with. Continue reading “Tine – A Winter Horrorscape (Review)”
This is the debut album by international black metal band Vörnir.
Brought to us by current/ex-members of Chaos Moon, Dagger Lust, Häxanu, Krieg, Triumvir Foul, Osgraef, Ringarë, Skáphe, Wormlust, and many, many, many more, Vörnir is a new band with a wealth of experience. All of which made me very interested to check out the 38 minutes of material on Av Hädanfärd Krönt. Continue reading “Vörnir – Av Hädanfärd Krönt (Review)”
This is the eighth album from Australian black metal band Pestilential Shadows.
For such a long-running band this is my first encounter with Pestilential Shadows. Wretch caught my eye though, with its 48 minutes of material that satisfies my taste for all things old-school black metal. Continue reading “Pestilential Shadows – Wretch (Review)”
This is the second album from Brazilian solo black metal act Autrest.
On Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves, the artist behind Autrest provides us with 42 minutes of nature-inspired atmospheric black metal. It’s well crafted, and the artist clearly knows what he’s doing. Continue reading “Autrest – Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves (Review)”
This is the second album from one-man black metal band Hasard.
This is the 46-minute follow up to 2023’s Malivore, which showcased the artist behind Hasard’s vision for dark, nightmarish black metal. Abgnose contains an idiosyncratic form of dissonant avant-garde black metal, one that’s enriched with dark orchestral symphonics as part of its journey into the abyss. Continue reading “Hasard – Abgnose (Review)”
This is the third album from Finnish black metallers Sarastus.
Agony Eternal contains 42 minutes of material, and is brought to us by current/ex-members of Iron Harvest and Order of Nosferat. Sarastus unleash their classic black metal might in no uncertain terms across these nine songs. It’s Finnish melodic black metal, played with cold fury and a fiery heart. Continue reading “Sarastus – Agony Eternal (Review)”
This is the debut album from Italian black metal band Blutsauger.
Nocturnal Blood Tyrants contains 34 minutes of primal, atavistic black metal. Blutsauger play it hard, nasty, and grim. It may be 2025, but around these parts it’s 1993. I liked this one a lot. Continue reading “Blutsauger – Nocturnal Blood Tyrants (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 