Fortress Festival 2025 – Scarborough Spa, Scarborough, 31/05/25-01/06/24 (Live Review)

Fortress Festival 2025 - Scarborough Spa, Scarborough

I’m so happy to be back at one of the world’s best black metal festivals. I love it here at Fortress Festival, and I can’t wait to work through such a great lineup again. If you haven’t been here before, make sure you don’t miss the 2026 edition.

Last year’s Fortress was excellent. I saw every band available, with the exception of a mere few when I needed to find food, essentially. This year I’m going to try an adopt a more sensible approach, (at least from one perspective), and not kill myself trying to catch everything again. Having said that, I’ll still be trying to watch as many bands as I realistically can, while factoring in food, downtime, circumstances, etc. This year’s lineup is so good though, that every band is worth seeing, and in an ideal world I’d do just that. Regardless, we’ll see how we get on. And also, there are some bands playing this weekend that are just absolutely mandatory.

Before we get into it – as was the case last year, I have once again been blessed to be able to use the stunning photographs from the very talented Aleksandra Hogg, (which is why they are far, far, far superior to the photos I normally take when left to my own devices). I urge you to check out her work at Acidolka here, here, or here. Continue reading “Fortress Festival 2025 – Scarborough Spa, Scarborough, 31/05/25-01/06/24 (Live Review)”

Wrath of Logarius – Crown of Mortis (Review)

Wrath of Logarius - Crown of MortisThis is the debut album from US black metallers Wrath of Logarius.

Crown of Mortis contains 37 minutes of modern black metal, incorporating elements of death metal to make a highly compelling whole. Continue reading “Wrath of Logarius – Crown of Mortis (Review)”

1349 – The Wolf and the King (Review)

1349 - The Wolf and the KingThis is the eighth album from Norwegian black metallers 1349.

1349 boast current/ex-members of Gorgoroth, Keep of Kalessin, Mortem, and Satyricon in their ranks, and they provide us with 39 minutes of Norwegian black metal in the form of The Wolf and the King. Continue reading “1349 – The Wolf and the King (Review)”

Svartelder – Trenches (Review)

Svartelder - TrenchesSvartelder are a Norwegian black metal band and this is their third album.

Svartelder contain current/ex-members of bands such as 1349, Den Saakaldte, Doedsvangr, Enepsigos, From the Vastland, Gaahls Wyrd, Horizon Ablaze, Nattverd, Nordjevel, and others, which is a lot of talent all in one place. Does the 38* minutes of material we find on Trenches live up to the promise that this collective experience brings with it? Continue reading “Svartelder – Trenches (Review)”

Cvinger – Doctrines by the Figures of Črnobog (Review)

Cvinger - Doctrines by the Figures of ČrnobogCvinger are a Slovakian black metal band and this is their third album.

It’s been ten years since Cvinger’s debut EP Monastery of Fallen, so now seems like a good time to see what they’re up to on their third album. With a promo blurb that mentions bands like 1349, Marduk, Mayhem, Gorgoroth, and Morbid Angel, you have a pretty good starting point for Cvinger’s hostile, yet mood-rich assault. Continue reading “Cvinger – Doctrines by the Figures of Črnobog (Review)”

Ondfødt – Det Österbottniska Mörkret (Review)

Ondfødt - Det Österbottniska M​ö​rkretThis is the fourth album from Finnish black metal act Ondfødt.

I always enjoy catching up with Ondfødt. 2014’s Hexkonst, 2019’s Dödsrikets Kallelse, and 2021’s Norden are all records that I enjoyed, so it made sense for me to want to check out Det Österbottniska Mörkret too. I’ll say upfront that this has turned out to be Ondfødt’s most professional, accomplished, and enjoyable record. Continue reading “Ondfødt – Det Österbottniska Mörkret (Review)”

Nordjevel – Gnavhòl (Review)

Nordjevel - GnavhòlNordjevel are a Norwegian black metal band and this is their third album.

Following on from 2021’s fiery Fenrir EP, (of which Gnawing the Bones reappears here), Gnavhòl is a 55-minute expression of black metal darkness. Continue reading “Nordjevel – Gnavhòl (Review)”

Christ Dismembered – Christ Dismembered (Review)

Christ DismemberedChrist Dismembered are an Australian black metal band and this is their debut album.

With a duration of only 28 minutes, this album goes for the throat big time. Yes, it’s time for some raw second wave black metal, and Christ Dismembered play their brand of misanthropic hatred very well. Continue reading “Christ Dismembered – Christ Dismembered (Review)”

Khaospath – …for the Devil Speaks the Truth (Review)

KhaospathThis is the second album from Khaospath, a Swedish black metal band.

This is an interesting album in a few different ways.

Although it’s undoubtedly raw and aggressive, it also contains a hearty heavy metal influence alongside its more traditional second wave approach. Continue reading “Khaospath – …for the Devil Speaks the Truth (Review)”

Corpus Diavolis – Atra Lumen (Review)

Corpus DiavolisThis is the third album from Corpus Diavolis, a French black metal band.

Featuring a member of Eradikal Insane, this is occult black metal in the vein of 1349, Marduk and Watain.

It’s hard not to Continue reading “Corpus Diavolis – Atra Lumen (Review)”