Blaze of Perdition – The Harrowing of Hearts (Review)

Blaze of Perdition - The Harrowing of HeartsBlaze of Perdition are a Polish black metal band and this is their fifth album.

A new Blaze of Perdition album is always welcome, with both 2015’s Near Death Revelations and 2017’s Conscious Darkness setting high standards. Pleasingly, The Harrowing of Hearts doesn’t let the side down, and offers 51 minutes of quality material, including a Fields of the Nephilim cover that closes the album. Continue reading “Blaze of Perdition – The Harrowing of Hearts (Review)”

Pénitence Onirique – Vestige (Review)

Pénitence Onirique - VestigeThis is the second album from French black metallers Pénitence Onirique.

It seems like ages ago that V.I.T.R.I.O.L. came out, and it was 2016 I suppose. The record made an impression, so I’m pleased to now be presented with its successor Vestige; 53 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Pénitence Onirique – Vestige (Review)”

Sons of a Wanted Man – Kenoma (Review)

Sons of a Wanted Man - KenomaSons of a Wanted Man are a post-black metal band from Belgium and this is their debut album.

Sons of a Wanted Man mix post-metal, shoegaze, and melancholic atmosphere into their blackened concoction, resulting in a multifaceted album that hits many highs across its 47-minute playing time. Continue reading “Sons of a Wanted Man – Kenoma (Review)”

Moonreich – Wormgod (Review)

Moonreich - WormgodThis is the latest EP from French black metallers Moonreich.

Moonreich are a band I always enjoy the work of, (Fugue, for example), and this new EP is no exception. It contains four new songs and a Depeche Mode cover, and lasts 22 minutes. Continue reading “Moonreich – Wormgod (Review)”

Frigoris – …In Stille (Review)

Frigoris - .​.​.​In StilleThis is the fourth album from Frigoris, an atmospheric post-black metal band from Germany.

Frigoris’ post-black metal is atmospheric and immersive, and as you journey across this 65-minute album, you’ll also discover aspects of doom, progressive metal, and post-rock that are incorporated into the music’s textured tapestry. Continue reading “Frigoris – …In Stille (Review)”

Aethyrick – Gnosis (Review)

Aethyrick - GnosisThis is the second album from Finnish black metallers Aethyrick.

2018’s Praxis was an enjoyable slice of personable second wave darkness, bolstered by both personality and ability. It doesn’t seem like too long ago that it was released, so I was surprised to see a new album already. It seems the band are not content to rest on their laurels. Continue reading “Aethyrick – Gnosis (Review)”

Asgrauw – IJsval (Review)

Asgrauw - IJsvalThis is the fourth album from Asgrauw, a black metal band from the Netherlands.

Previous full-length Gronspech was an enjoyable album that appealed to the old-school black metal fanbase, and new album IJsval continues in this same vein, with 38 minutes of biting blackened material. Continue reading “Asgrauw – IJsval (Review)”

Kassad – London Orbital (Review)

Kassad - London OrbitalThis is the second album from UK post-black metallers Kassad.

Following on from 2017’s Turn Faces Away, Kassad now provide us with London Orbital, a dystopian concept album that’s modern and crushing in its bleak portrayal of near-future existence. Continue reading “Kassad – London Orbital (Review)”

Ramihrdus – Midsummer’s Twilight (Review)

Ramihrdus - Midsummer's TwilightThis is the second album from one-man US black metal band Ramihrdus.

Here we have 45 minutes of raw atmospheric black metal that also contains folk and ambient elements. The music is layered and rich, with a multitude of additional instruments used in addition to the core you would expect on a metal album. This allows for Continue reading “Ramihrdus – Midsummer’s Twilight (Review)”

Wolvencrown – Of Bark and Ash (Review)

Wolvencrown - Of Bark and AshThis is the debut album from UK black metallers Wolvencrown.

This is atmospheric black metal played with passion and verve. The album’s nature-inspired grandeur is easy to listen to and absorb if you’re inducted into the blackened arts. Continue reading “Wolvencrown – Of Bark and Ash (Review)”