Ashbringer are an atmospheric black metal band from the US and this is their third album.
Ashbringer’s black metal combines aggressive blackness with melodic sensibilities and folk-influenced post-rock reflection. Elements of bands such as Fen, Agalloch, Falls of Rauros, Amiensus, and Alcest can be heard, but moulded and channelled through Ashbringer’s own collective experiences and personality. Continue reading
Chernaa are an international, (Czech Republic/Ukraine/Russia), post-black metal band and this is their debut album.
The promo blurb for this album stated that it was for fans of Deafheaven, Oathbreaker, Wolves in the Throne Room, Wiegedood, and Harakiri for the Sky, so I knew that I had to at least give it a listen. Then, having skimmed through a couple of their videos, I knew I Continue reading
This is the debut album from US black metal band Murk Rider.
Three enormous songs, with a combined duration of 82 minutes? Okay, I’ll bite.
An album of depth, both musically and thematically, Exile of Shadows is black metal in only one of its aspects, albeit a primary one. The band also occasionally incorporate apocalyptic sludge and stoner doom into their melting pot, as well as strands of classic heavy and speed metal. This curious, (yet effective), mixture means that Continue reading
Itheist are a UK black/death metal band and this is their debut album.
Previously named Aetherium Mors, this is the band’s first release under its new moniker. This is modern, dissonant black metal that’s been hybridised with death metal and energised with melodic darkness. Continue reading
This is the debut album from Temple Koludra, a German black metal band.
Temple Koludra’s music uses black and death metal to craft a grim, raw exploration of Indian cultures and influences via extreme metal’s embracing framework. Continue reading
Ancient Hostility are a Ukrainian/US black metal band and this is their debut album.
This is, on the surface of things, a second wave black metal album, full of the sort of misanthropy and hatred that you’d expect for something like this. Scratch the surface, however, (and by this I mean actually listen to it), and you’ll also find a bit more than the norm here. Continue reading
If April saw a lot of high quality albums released, May was ridiculous. Worse than April, I had a shortlist of 23 albums that I judged were fitting of being highlighed. Somehow, I have no idea how, I have managed to get this down to 11. I wanted to get that down to an even 10, but just couldn’t find one to cut. Anyway, here we goooooooo… Continue reading
This is the seventh album from french black metallers Deathspell Omega.
Deathspell Omega are well-known in black metal circles, and a new release is always somewhat of an event for people with a taste for high quality esoteric substance. Continue reading
Kval are a black metal band from Finland and this is their second album.
I’ve been greatly anticipating the next Kval release, as the band’s 2017 self titled debut album was quite the underground find. The debut seemed to be a solo affair, whereas this new one seems to have added a guitarist. Continue reading
Starless Domain are a US black metal band and this is their debut album.
Consisting of a single track lasting almost an hour, (at least my version is – I’ve seen others that are divided into four tracks), EOS is an ambitious journey into the night sky. Continue reading
