Mara are a Swedish black metal band and this is their fifth album.
I thoroughly enjoyed 2019’s RÖK and 2022’s Loka Maer, so was pleased to see Sword of Vengeance appear on the horizon, threatening like a blackened storm. Yep, it’s time for 35 minutes of darkness come to swallow the world. Continue reading “Mara – Sword of Vengeance (Review)”
This is the latest EP from US black metallers Valdrin.
2023’s Throne of the Lunar Soul was a standout album, so it’s great to have more new Valdrin appear. Apex Violator is a tight 29 minutes, delivering five songs of Valdrin’s sharp, lethal black metal. Continue reading “Valdrin – Apex Violator (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Slovakian black metal band Aeon Winds.
An Ode to the Mountains contains 60 minutes, (with bonus track), of symphonic black metal. Aeon Winds play in the older style, recalling bands such as Aquilus, Emperor, Limbonic Art, and Midnight Odyssey. Continue reading “Aeon Winds – An Ode to the Mountains (Review)”
This is the latest EP/mini-album from Iku-Turso, a Finnish/Dutch black metal band.
Brought to us by current/ex-members of From the Vastland, Khanus, and Order of Nosferat, Wolfheart contains 30 minutes of material, consisting of four original tracks and an Emperor cover. Iku-Turso play old-school black metal, steeped in the lore of the Scandinavian second wave. Continue reading “Iku-Turso – Wolfheart (Review)”
This is the sixth album from French black metallers Darkenhöld.
Following on from 2020’s Arcanes & Sortilèges, Le Fléau du Rocher gives us 48 minutes of new material from Darkenhöld. The band’s medieval black metal hits the spot, conjuring landscapes of blackened texture for the listener to explore. Continue reading “Darkenhöld – Le Fléau du Rocher (Review)”
This is the second album from Gaahls Wyrd, an avant-garde/dark metal band from Norway.
I really liked both 2019’s Gastir – Ghosts Invited and 2021’s The Humming Mountain, so the 42-minute Braiding the Stories is gratefully received. This is not music to be casually experienced, but an experience to be explored at length. Continue reading “Gaahls Wyrd – Braiding the Stories (Review)”
Trivax are an Iranian/UK black metal band and this is their third album.
Trivax made a good start with 2017’s SIN, but then totally ascended a level with its 2023 follow up Eloah Burns Out – a record that has only grown in power over time. Relatively quickly though we now have the 43-minute The Great Satan, and it’s time to see if a speedy turnaround has been good to Trivax or not. Continue reading “Trivax – The Great Satan (Review)”
This is the seventh album from Finnish black metallers …And Oceans.
I thoroughly enjoyed 2023’s As in Gardens, so in Tombs, so I’ve been eagerly awaiting The Regeneration Journey. On their new album, …And Oceans deliver 47 minutes, (54 minutes with the bonus tracks), of their compelling black metal. Buckle up, as it’s going to be a furious ride. Continue reading “…And Oceans – The Regeneration Itinerary (Review)”
Labyrinthus Stellarum are a black metal band from Ukraine and this is their third album.
Rift in Reality contains 37 minutes of engaging black metal with a sci-fi theme. Labyrinthus Stellarum play black metal that’s enhanced with electronic elements and extraterrestrial keyboards. Overall it’s a mix of melodic, atmospheric, and industrial black metal, although There are actually a few other styles mixed into the DNA of this too, including a bit of symphonic deathcore, to name just one. Continue reading “Labyrinthus Stellarum – Rift in Reality (Review)”
This is the second album from US black/death metal band Drouth.
It’s been five long years since 2020’s Excerpts from a Dread Liturgy, but now Drouth are back, with a new bassist in tow, (current/ex-Cormorant/Ursa). So, let’s turn our attention to the five new songs we have here in the form of the 41-minute The Teeth of Time. Continue reading “Drouth – The Teeth of Time (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 