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)”

Earth and Pillars – Earth II (Review)

Earth and Pillars - Earth IIThis is the third album from Italian black metal band Earth and Pillars.

2016’s Pillars I consisted of four monolithic tracks that made a very good impression. A release full of dark delights, it was a memorable album that still holds itself very well three years later. Continue reading “Earth and Pillars – Earth II (Review)”

Endless Voyage X – Opaque (Review)

Endless Voyage X - OpaqueThis is the debut album from Endless Voyage X, a black metal band from the US.

Here we have 34 minutes of music that takes a second wave black metal base and builds on it with additional melody and atmosphere. Continue reading “Endless Voyage X – Opaque (Review)”

Schammasch – Hearts of No Light (Review)

Schammasch - Hearts of No LightSchammasch are a Black Metal band from Switzerland. This is their fourth album.

Was it really 2016 that the epic Triangle was released to an unsuspecting world? Apparently so. An incredibly strong release, it narrowly missed out on the top spot for my best albums of 2016 list. It was followed up in 2017 by the even more avant-garde EP The Maldoror Chants: Hermaphrodite, which provided a compelling dose of atmospheric material. Continue reading “Schammasch – Hearts of No Light (Review)”

Midnight Odyssey – Biolume Part 1 – In Tartarean Chains (Review)

Midnight Odyssey - Biolume Part 1 - In Tartarean ChainsMidnight Odyssey is an Australian one-man black metal band and this is his third album.

As ridiculous as it sounds, I almost didn’t want to review or even listen to this album. Why? Because the band’s last album – 2015’s immense Shards of Silver Fade – was so hideously good that I couldn’t imagine being anything but disappointed with Biolume Part 1 – In Tartarean Chains. After all, Shards of Silver Fade claimed the coveted top spot in my end of year list for 2015, so this new one had a lot to live up to.

Anyway, enough preamble. Time to judge Biolume Part 1 – In Tartarean Chains on its own merits, of which there are many. Apparently this is the first in a trilogy of albums. I can’t wait to hear the next one already. Continue reading “Midnight Odyssey – Biolume Part 1 – In Tartarean Chains (Review)”