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)”

Nullingroots – Malady’s Black Maw (Review)

Nullingroots - Malady's Black MawThis is the fifth album from US post-black metal band Nullingroots.

I enjoyed 2017’s Into the Grey, so Malady’s Black Maw is well-received. Combining modern, atmospheric, and blackgaze influences into its post-blackened formula, with a fiery black metal core that everything else is built around, this new album contains 65 minutes of immersive music. Continue reading “Nullingroots – Malady’s Black Maw (Review)”

Israthoum – Arrows from Below (Review)

Israthoum - Arrows from BelowThis is the fourth album from black metallers Israthoum, who are from the Netherlands, (although Portugal originally).

I enjoy Israthoum’s work, and urge you to also check out Black Poison and Shared Wounds, Antru Kald, and Channeling Death and Evil. This new album gives us 31 minutes of darkness, and finds Israthoum’s orthodox take on the style to still be hugely enjoyable. Continue reading “Israthoum – Arrows from Below (Review)”

Avslut – Tyranni (Review)

Avslut - TyranniThis is the second album from Swedish black metallers Avslut.

Hot on the heels of last year’s Deceptis now comes Tyranni, with 47 minutes of cold fury. This is black metal of the old-school Swedish variety; vicious and evil. Continue reading “Avslut – Tyranni (Review)”

Bölzer – Lese Majesty (Review)

Bölzer - Lese MajestyBölzer are a Swiss black metal band and this is their latest EP.

Bölzer’s music is impressively creative and idiosyncratic, and their take on blackened metal is both enjoyable and infectious. An EP this may be, but there’s still 29 minutes of material here. Continue reading “Bölzer – Lese Majesty (Review)”

Mara – RÖK (Review)

Mara - RÖKMara is a Swedish one man black metal band and this is his third album.

Sometimes you just need a hit of the black stuff, and RÖK offers 36 minutes of the darkness you need. Spread across 5 tracks, this is cold black metal played as if it was still the 90s. Continue reading “Mara – RÖK (Review)”