Árstíðir Lífsins – Hermalausaz (Review)

Árstíðir Lífsins - HermalausazThis is the latest EP from Árstíðir Lífsins, an international, (Germany/Iceland), black metal band.

Following on from 2020’s epic Saga á tveim tungum II: Eigi fjǫll né firðir comes an equally epic EP. Despite containing only two songs, Hermalausaz is an album-length release at 43 minutes in duration, and packs a lot of content into its extended running time. Continue reading “Árstíðir Lífsins – Hermalausaz (Review)”

Yfel – Beneath the Mountain’s Vigil (Review)

Yfel - Beneath the Mountain's VigilThis is the debut album from US black metal band Yfel.

Across the 40 minutes of music on Beneath the Mountain’s Vigil Yfel reveal themselves as very capable purveyors of atmospheric black metal. Continue reading “Yfel – Beneath the Mountain’s Vigil (Review)”

Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze – The Fractal Ouroboros (Review)

Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze - The Fractal OuroborosThis is the second album from US black metal band Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze.

Brought to us by an ex-member of A God or an Other, The Fractal Ouroboros is an ambitious and bold work that’s utterly absorbing. Across an imposing 75 minutes Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze unleash music that is affecting like few others. Continue reading “Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze – The Fractal Ouroboros (Review)”

Efraah Enhsikaah – One Thousand Vultures Waiting to Be Fed (Review)

Efraah Enhsikaah - One Thousand Vultures Waiting to Be FedThis is the debut album from UK solo black metal act Efraah Enhsikaah.

One Thousand Vultures Waiting to Be Fed is a quality 41-minute atmospheric black metal album. It look me a while to get around to this one, but you won’t want to miss out on its dark charms. Continue reading “Efraah Enhsikaah – One Thousand Vultures Waiting to Be Fed (Review)”

Serpents Oath – Revelation (Review)

Serpents Oath - RevelationSerpents Oath are a black metal band from Belgium and this is their third album.

Following quickly on from last year’s AscensionRevelation contains 47 minutes of new material for lovers of the classic blackened style. Continue reading “Serpents Oath – Revelation (Review)”

Revulsed – Cerebral Contamination (Review)

Revulsed - Cerebral ContaminationThis is the second album from Australian death metal band Revulsed.

Cerebral Contamination is a 36-minute assault of brutal riffs, blasting technical savagery, and guttural vocals. Yes, Revulsed play brutal death metal, and they’re here to rip the skull out of your head by the eye sockets. Continue reading “Revulsed – Cerebral Contamination (Review)”

Bludgeon Oath – A Burning Wrath (Review)

Bludgeon Oath - A Burning WrathThis is the debut album from Canadian black metallers Bludgeon Oath.

A Burning Wrath was unleashed on an unsuspecting world in October, but when I sampled its wares recently, I knew I had to dig in deeper. As soon as I did, I was hooked. Across 32 minutes Bludgeon Oath have produced an enjoyable slab of darkness that should set them up very nicely for the future. Continue reading “Bludgeon Oath – A Burning Wrath (Review)”

Suel – Venomous Curse (Review)

Suel - Venomous CurseSuel are a German black metal band and this is their debut album.

Venomous Curse brings us 45 minutes of classic black metal, influenced by the second wave of the 90s. Continue reading “Suel – Venomous Curse (Review)”

Grabunhold/Circle of Shadows – Lamentationen – Split (Review)

Grabunhold Circle of Shadows - Lamentationen - SplitThis is a split between two black metal bands, Grabunhold from Germany and Circle of Shadows from Austria.

Grabunhold feature current and ex-members of Baxaxaxa and Imha Tarikat, and they are up first, with three tracks spread over 17 minutes. Continue reading “Grabunhold/Circle of Shadows – Lamentationen – Split (Review)”

Slow – Abîmes I (Review)

Slow - Abîmes ISlow are a funeral doom band from Belgium and this is their seventh album.

Both 2017’s V – Oceans and 2019’s VI – Dantalion were colossal records of immersive atmospheric doom immensity. The latter made it onto my end of year list for 2019 too. With that in mind, and with expectations running high, we turn to the 44 minutes that Abîmes I has in store for us. Continue reading “Slow – Abîmes I (Review)”