This is the debut album from Swiss black metal band Irr.
Irr have risen from the ashes of the mighty Forlet Sires, so Remains Remain was definitely something I needed to hear once I knew of its existence. Across 34 minutes it provides an experience that belies its relatively brief duration. Continue reading “Irr – Remains Remain (Review)”
This is the fourth album form French black metallers Dysylumn.
Following on from 2020’s Cosmogonie comes the 37-minute Abstraction. Compared to its gargantuan predecessor, it’s far shorter, but lacks for nothing in dominating presence. Continue reading “Dysylumn – Abstraction (Review)”
This is the second album by Canadian black metal band Vespéral.
La Mort de l’Âme contains 41 minutes of black metal, brought to us in part by members of Conifère. I wasn’t consciously aware of Vespéral before they were announced to play the mighty Fortress Festival next year, although I’ve definitely seen their logo and album art before, somewhere, somehow. Continue reading “Vespéral – La Mort de l’Âme (Review)”
This is the debut album by German post-black metallers Hæresis.
Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum contains four tracks, with a duration of 41 minutes in total. Hæresis offer up a feast of foreboding hostility, and will ably reward anyone into acts such as Akhlys, Black Birch, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Terzij de Horde, This Gift Is a Curse, Ultha, and Wiegedood. Continue reading “Hæresis – Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Starer, a one-man black metal band from the US.
Since appearing out of nowhere with the wonderful 18° Below the Horizon in 2021, the artist behind Starer has been busy. We’ve had two subsequent full lengths, (2022’s The What It Is to Be and 2023’s Wind, Breeze, or Breath), and a plethora of other smaller releases. he’s now back with the 49-minute Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness, and it’s a cracking record. Continue reading “Starer – Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness (Review)”
Les Bâtards du Roi are a French black metal band and this is their second album.
Les Bâtards du Roi play melodic black metal with a medieval theme. Les Chemins de L’Exil brings us 47 minutes of material, and it’s pretty damn good. Actually, that’s an understatement – this is exceptional, and stands out from the average black metal release noticeably. Continue reading “Les Bâtards du Roi – Les Chemins de L’Exil (Review)”
Terzij de Horde are a black metal band from the Netherlands and this is their third album.
Whether it’s 2015’s Self or 2022’s In One of These, I Am Your Enemy, Terzij de Horde being the intensity. Now they’re back, sooner than expected, with the 43-minute Our Breath Is Not Ours Alone, and it absolutely rages. Continue reading “Terzij de Horde – Our Breath Is Not Ours Alone (Review)”
Agriculture are a post-black metal band from the US and this is their second album.
The Spiritual Sound is the 44-minute follow up to 2023’s well-received Agriculture. Combing a range of diverse ingredients into an engaging post-black metal sound, Agriculture’s new record is a step up for the band. Continue reading “Agriculture – The Spiritual Sound (Review)”
This is the fourth album from UK black/doom/heavy metal band Wode.
This is the follow up to 2021’s Burn in Many Mirrors, and a record I’m pleased to see appear. Uncrossing the Keys is not more of the same from Wode though. This should be expected, as each Wode album so far has found the band adding to their musical framework. Continue reading “Wode – Uncrossing the Keys (Review)”
This is the debut album from black metal band Achathras.
A mysterious entity, formed by veterans of the scene apparently, Achathras certainly know their stuff. A Darkness of the Ancient Past contains 43 minutes of classic 90s black metal, and it’s pretty damn good. Continue reading “Achathras – A Darkness of the Ancient Past (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 