Vafurlogi – Í Vökulli Áþján (Review)

Vafurlogi - Í Vökulli ÁþjánVafurlogi are a black metal band from Iceland and this is their debut album.

Í Vökulli Áþján contains 43 minutes of music and is brought to us by a current/ex-member of Sinmara and Svartidauði. Joined by a very capable drummer, (Beneath, Helfró, Ophidian I), Vafurlogi are a dark revelation that has long been threatening to spill over into reality, but now has. Continue reading “Vafurlogi – Í Vökulli Áþján (Review)”

Winterfylleth – The Imperious Horizon (Review)

Winterfylleth - The Imperious HorizonWinterfylleth are a UK black metal band and this is their eighth album.

The Imperious Horizon is the 58-minute follow up to 2020’s The Reckoning Dawn. With a new guitarist in tow, (from Necronautical), how does Winterfylleth’s atmospheric black metal sound in 2024? Continue reading “Winterfylleth – The Imperious Horizon (Review)”

Agrypnie – Erg (Review)

Agrypnie - ErgAgrypnie are a black metal band from Germany and this is their seventh album.

Erg contains 54 minutes of music, and is brought to us by members of The Negative Bias and Perchta, (as well as many others). Agrypnie’s music is of a high quality level, and Erg showcases the band in a good light throughout. Continue reading “Agrypnie – Erg (Review)”

Aethyrick – Death Is Absent (Review)

Aethyrick - Death Is AbsentThis is the fifth album from Finnish black metallers Aethyrick.

I always have time for Aethyrick’s brand of black metal, so it’s great to have some new material from them in the form of the 43-minute Death Is Absent. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, then as well as this new album it’s also worth checking out 2018’s Praxis, 2020’s Gnosis, 2021’s Apotheosis, and 2022’s Pilgrimage. Aethyrick may have only been around since 2016, but they’re quite prolific. Continue reading “Aethyrick – Death Is Absent (Review)”

Firtan – Ethos (Review)

Firtan - EthosFirtan are a German black metal band and this is their fourth album.

Following on from 2022’s very enjoyable MarterEthos brings us 51 minutes of new material from Firtan. On this new album the band aren’t holding back. Continue reading “Firtan – Ethos (Review)”

Oceans of Slumber – Where Gods Fear to Speak (Review)

Oceans of Slumber - Where Gods Fear to SpeakThis is the sixth album from US progressive metallers Oceans of Slumber.

After releasing two very well-received albums of progressive metal in 2018’s The Banished Heart and 2020’s self titled album, Oceans of Slumber surprised many by adopting more of a hard rock approach on 2022’s Starlight and Ash. Although ultimately I naturally prefer their heavier more metallic material, it was still an accomplished album worthy of anyone’s time. With new record Where Gods Fear to Speak now on the horizon, what do Oceans of Slumber bring us in 2024? Let’s find out. Continue reading “Oceans of Slumber – Where Gods Fear to Speak (Review)”

156/Silence – People Watching (Review)

156 Silence - People WatchingThis is the fifth album from US metallic hardcore band 156/Silence.

People Watching contains 47 minutes of 156/Silence’s brand of crushing metalcore. It’s a contemporary blend of hardcore and metal that’s not completely what I expected it to be. Continue reading “156/Silence – People Watching (Review)”

Isolert – Wounds of Desolation (Review)

Isolert - Wounds of DesolationThis is the third album from Greek black metallers Isolert.

Isolert gained my attention with 2015’s Isolated Soul, held it with 2016’s No Hope, No Light…Only Death and 2017’s split with Insanity CultTowards the Great Dissolution, and then exceeded all expectations with 2020’s fantastic World in Ruins. The latter ended up in my top three in my end of year list for that year, so to say expectations are high for Wounds of Desolation is an understatement. Continue reading “Isolert – Wounds of Desolation (Review)”

Kingcrow – Hopium (Review)

Kingcrow - HopiumKingcrow are an Italian progressive rock band and this is their eighth album.

I really liked 2015’s Eidos, (and somehow missed its 2018 follow up), so wanted to make sure I caught up with the band for the 53-minute, (with bonus track), Hopium. I was not disappointed. Continue reading “Kingcrow – Hopium (Review)”

Marrow of Man – Ancient Hymns of Apocalypse (Review)

Marrow of Man - Ancient Hymns of ApocalypseThis is the debut album from Marrow of Man, a one-man black metal band from the Netherlands.

Ancient Hymns of Apocalypse contains 46 minutes of black metal, with some thrash metal elements added in for extra brutality. The promo blurb says that the primary influences of this act are Dissection, Bathory, Evilfeast, Darkthrone, Odium, and Lunar Spells, so that will give you a starting point for the Marrow of Man sound. Continue reading “Marrow of Man – Ancient Hymns of Apocalypse (Review)”