Udånde – Life of a Purist (Review)

Udånde - Life of a PuristThis is the debut album from Udånde, a solo black metal band based in Slovakia, augmented by as session vocalist and drummer.

Now here’s an album to thoroughly scratch that modern black metal itch. Life of a Purist is atmospheric and melodic, without being entirely beholden to either Continue reading “Udånde – Life of a Purist (Review)”

Fuath – II (Review)

Fuath - IIThis is the second album from Fuath, a one-man UK black metal band.

Here we have 42 minutes of atmospheric black metal in the vein of the 90s second wave. The promo blurb mentions bands such as Darkthrone, Mayhem, Burzum, Drudkh, and Windir, and these influences are well-represented Continue reading “Fuath – II (Review)”

Aara – Triade I: Eos (Review)

Aara - Triade I EosThis is the third album from Swiss black metallers Aara.

The melodic and atmospheric forms of black metal collide and collude on Triade I: Eos to produce 45 minutes of concept-themed music. Continue reading “Aara – Triade I: Eos (Review)”

Mare Cognitum – Solar Paroxysm (Review)

Mare Cognitum - Solar ParoxysmThis is the fifth album from one-man black metal band Mare Cognitum.

The artist behind Mare Cognitum is one of the absolute best in the genre when it comes to atmospheric black metal. I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing Phobos MonolithLuminiferous Aether, and last year’s colossal Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine – Split with Spectral Lore, and his stellar Continue reading “Mare Cognitum – Solar Paroxysm (Review)”

Midnight Odyssey – Biolume Part 2 – The Golden Orb (Review)

Midnight Odyssey - Biolume Part 1 - The Golden OrbThis is the sixth album from Australian one-man black metal act Midnight Odyssey.

The second part in a trilogy, (the first part being 2019’s exceptional Biolume Part 1 – In Tartarean Chains), Biolume Part 2 – The Golden Orb contains a massive 102 minutes of material.

On his latest Continue reading “Midnight Odyssey – Biolume Part 2 – The Golden Orb (Review)”

Kjeld – Ôfstân (Review)

Kjeld - ÔfstânKjeld are a black metal band from the Netherlands and this is their second album.

Kjeld’s debut album Skym saw the light of day back in 2015, and apart from their split with Wederganger in 2016, (which was then rereleased as an EP in 2018), we’ve had nothing new from them since. So, when Ôfstân appeared on my radar, I knew Continue reading “Kjeld – Ôfstân (Review)”

MNHG – Mundare (Review)

MNHG - MundareThis is the debut album from German black metallers MNHG.

I confess that anything with the black ‘n’ roll tag I usually let pass me by, but after a brief sampling of the material here I felt compelled to dive deeper, and here we are.

So, what did I find upon entering MNHG’s world? ALL OF THE RIFFS!!! Continue reading “MNHG – Mundare (Review)”

Hænesy – Garabontzia (Review)

Hænesy - GarabontziaThis is the second album from Hungarian post-black metal band Hænesy.

Having followed Hænesy from their debut album Katruzsa in 2018 to their 2019 split with Moondweller, I was keen to hear some new material from the band. Enter Garabontzia, which contains 44 minutes of the stuff. Continue reading “Hænesy – Garabontzia (Review)”