Jours Pâles – Éclosion (Review)

Jours Pâles - ÉclosionThis is the debut album from French post-black metallers Jours Pâles.

Jours Pâles have an interesting and in some ways non-standard sound. Not because they’re especially avant-garde or experimental, but because of the way that they combine a few different ingredients from different musical brews into something of their own making. Continue reading “Jours Pâles – Éclosion (Review)”

Aylwin – The Arch Holder (Review)

Aylwin - The Arch HolderThis is the debut album from US black metallers Aylwin.

Here we have a single 30-minute track that’s a mix of atmospheric and post-black metal. The track is a nature-influenced apocalyptic soundscape that combines elements from the Cascadian style of black metal with mournful post-metallic aspects. Continue reading “Aylwin – The Arch Holder (Review)”

Spire – Temple of Khronos (Review)

Spire - Temple of KhronosThis is the second album from Australian black metal act Spire.

Temple of Khronos offers a dark mix of atmospheric, progressive, and psychedelic black metal. It’s as if the classic style that we know and love has been mutated and warped into something even darker and more malefic. Continue reading “Spire – Temple of Khronos (Review)”

Harakiri for the Sky – Mӕre (Review)

Harakiri for the Sky - MӕreThis is the fifth album from Austrian post-black metallers Harakiri for the Sky.

I always enjoy a new Harakiri for the Sky record. Both 2016’s III: Trauma and 2018’s Arson were first-rate albums from a first-rate band, and Mӕre is no different. Continue reading “Harakiri for the Sky – Mӕre (Review)”

Sur Austru – Obârșie (Review)

Sur Austru - ObârșieSur Austru are an atmospheric black/folk metal band from Romania and this is their second album.

2019’s Meteahna Timpurilor was a very enjoyable collection of songs, so I knew I wanted to listen to Obârșie as soon as I could. The band feature ex-members of Negură Bunget, and a current member of Kultika. Continue reading “Sur Austru – Obârșie (Review)”

Blurr Thrower – Les Voûtes (Review)

Blurr Thrower - Les VoûtesThis is the debut album from French one-man black metal band Blurr Thrower.

I enjoyed 2018’s Les Avatars du Vide, so was already keen to check out Les Voûtes, but then when I saw that it boasted such a damn fine cover, I knew I had to. Disappointed, I have not been. Continue reading “Blurr Thrower – Les Voûtes (Review)”

Anguis Dei – Angeist (Review)

Anguis Dei - AngeistThis is the debut album from Anguis Dei, a black metal band from Japan.

If you have a craving for old-school symphonic/orchestral black metal in the style of bands such as Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, and Cradle of Filth, then Angeist is one for you. Across 45 minutes Angus Dei transport Continue reading “Anguis Dei – Angeist (Review)”

Atra Vetosus – Even the Dawn No Longer Brings Hope (Review)

Atra Vetosus - Even the Dawn No Longer Brings HopeThis is the latest EP from Australian black metallers Atra Vetosus.

We haven’t heard from Atra Vetosus since 2018’s Apricity, so I’m happy to have a new release from them. On Even the Dawn No Longer Brings Hope the band mix elements of melodic, depressive, atmospheric, and post-black metal together into a very satisfying and well-crafted 23 minutes of material. Continue reading “Atra Vetosus – Even the Dawn No Longer Brings Hope (Review)”

The Ruins of Beverast – The Thule Grimoires (Review)

The Ruins of Beverast - The Thule GrimoiresThis is the sixth album from one-man German black/doom metal metal band The Ruins of Beverast.

The Ruins of Beverast’s music is an intriguing and exotic combination of atmospheric black and doom metal. Okay, so what’s so exotic about it, you might ask? Well, it’s the artist’s sublime ability to combine lesser-heard influences, (an occasional touch of Continue reading “The Ruins of Beverast – The Thule Grimoires (Review)”

Starer – 18° Below the Horizon (Review)

Starer - 18° Below the HorizonThis is the debut album from Starer, a one-man black metal band from the US.

Brought to us by a member of Bihargam, Starer is a different proposition from that band, and offers 45 minutes of modern darkness for the listener to become absorbed by. Continue reading “Starer – 18° Below the Horizon (Review)”