Tag Archives: Ambient

Arstidir Lifsins – Saga á tvei m tungum II: Eigi fj ǫ ll né firðir (Review)

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Arstidir Lifsins - Saga IIArstidir Lifsins are an international, (Germany/Iceland), black metal band, and this is their fifth album.

Here we have 74 minutes of pagan black metal, incorporating elements of the atmospheric, folk, and ambient styles. Continue reading →

Forlesen – Hierophant Violent (Review)

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Forlesen - Hierophant ViolentForlesen are from the US and play doom. This is their debut album.

There are only two lengthy tracks on this album, but with a total duration of 36 minutes, that matters not. The band members in Forlesen have a lot of experience with atypical music, as they play in a variety of bands such as Lotus Thief, Kayo Dot, Botanist, Maudlin of the Well, Nero Order, Palace of Worms, and Vesper Moth. Continue reading →

Spectral Lore/Mare Cognitum – Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine – Split (Review)

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Spectral Lore Mare Cognitum - Wanderers Astrology of the Nine - SplitSpectral Lore and Mare Cognitum are both one-man black metal bands, (from Greece and the US respectively), and this is their latest collaborative split.

No stranger to teaming up with each other, these two atmospheric black metal bands have created an epic project with Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine. Just under 2 hours in total duration, this monolithic release features four tracks from each band interspersed with each other, topped by a final two tracks that are collaborative, with both artists creating music together. Continue reading →

Crown of Asteria/Nodus Tollens – Split (Review)

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Crown of Asteria Nodus Tollens - SplitCrown of Asteria is a one-woman black metal band from the US, and Nodus Tollens in a one-man black metal band, also from the US.

The split opens with the single 19-minute track Claw of the Firemaker by Crown of Asteria. The style is nature-influenced atmospheric black metal with elements of doom, folk, and ambient mixed in. It’s raw and unpolished, but this simply adds to the music’s charms. Continue reading →

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

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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 →

Maïeutiste – Veritas (Review)

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Maïeutiste - VeritasThis is the second album from Maïeutiste, a French Black Metal band.

2015’s Maïeutiste was a record that impressed. Full of wide-ranging content and engaging blackened exploration, it was an album of fire and mystery. Veritas continues the theme developed in the band’s earlier work, only to refine it further. Continue reading →

Hope Drone – Void Lustre (Review)

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Hope Drone - Void LustreHope Drone are an Australian post-black metal band and this is their second album.

This is easily one of my most anticipated releases of 2019. 2015’s Cloak of Ash was a colossal work, one which I’ve grown to enjoy more and more over the years, and a new album is long overdue. Delivering 64 minutes of material across five new songs, Void Lustre has been worth the wait. Continue reading →

Glassing – Spotted Horse (Review)

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Glassing - Spotted HorseGlassing are a blackened hardcore band from the US and this is their second album.

I do so like these hybrid styles that are almost impossible to lump into a single genre, or to easily categorise. This particular release mixes hardcore, black metal, and post-metal into something quite personable, and it’s a very effective and enjoyable listen because of this. Continue reading →