Dratna – Fomóraigh (Review)

Dratna - FomóraighDratna is a solo black metal band from Northern Ireland and this is his second album.

I enjoyed 2020’s Druid Winds & the Fall of the Celtic Gods, but missed Dratna’s debut album, so Fomóraigh is the perfect opportunity for me to catch back up with the band. The 39 minutes of material on the album reveals a well-rounded and well-developed slice of atmospheric black metal. Continue reading “Dratna – Fomóraigh (Review)”

Verzauber – Frankincense & Vitriol (Review)

Verzauber - Frankincense & VitriolThis is the debut album from solo Irish black metal band Verzauber.

Containing a colossal 80 minutes of material, Frankincense & Vitriol is an extended undertaking, with epic-length songs that are full of immersive content. Verzauber’s primary style is that of raw atmospheric black metal, and within and alongside this a few different influences can be felt, resulting in a well-textured and detailed work. Continue reading “Verzauber – Frankincense & Vitriol (Review)”

Blvgth – From Behind the Frosted Sun (Review)

Blvgth - From Behind the Frosted SunThis is the debut EP from international black metal act Blvgth.

Across 19 minutes Blvgth showcase their dark talents, and showcase them very well they certainly do. Continue reading “Blvgth – From Behind the Frosted Sun (Review)”

Numeron – Road to Valhalla (Review)

Numeron - Road to ValhallaThis is the second album from Indonesian post-black metal band Numeron.

Road to Valhalla is a 43-minute exploration of atmospheric black metal and blackgaze, delivered in a post-black metal package that’s passionately performed. Numeron have produced a well-crafted slice of expressive darkness. Continue reading “Numeron – Road to Valhalla (Review)”

Witte Wieven – Dwaallicht (Review)

Witte Wieven - DwaallichtWitte Wieven are a black metal band from the Netherlands and this is their debut album.

Featuring a member of Freja, Dwaallicht contains 41 minutes of atmospheric black metal with post-rock, shoegaze, and doom elements. The new material lasts 32 minutes, and consists of the first five tracks. The remaining track is a live version of an older song, for some reason. Continue reading “Witte Wieven – Dwaallicht (Review)”

Tempel Wolf – Hirschgeweihmaskeraden (Review)

Tempel Wolf - HirschgeweihmaskeradenTempel Wolf are a black metal band from Switzerland and this is their debut release.

Tempel Wolf play atmospheric black metal, and on Hirschgeweihmaskeraden they deliver 32 minutes of material across this absorbing release. Continue reading “Tempel Wolf – Hirschgeweihmaskeraden (Review)”

Aara – Triade III: Nyx (Review)

Aara - Triade III NyxThis is the fifth album from Swiss black metal band Aara.

Another year, another Aara record, and I’m very happy about this. Triade III: Nyx is the final instalment in the trilogy that brought us Triade I: Eos from 2021 and the stellar Triade II: Hemera from last year. Continue reading “Aara – Triade III: Nyx (Review)”

Vitriolic Sage – 梦路 (Review)

Vitriolic Sage - 梦路This is the third album from Vitriolic Sage, a one-man black metal band from China.

Brought to us by the artist behind the exceptional Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites), 梦路 contains 43 minutes of modern black metal. 梦路 combines elements of the Continue reading “Vitriolic Sage – 梦路 (Review)”

Afsky – Om Hundrede År (Review)

Afsky - Om Hundrede ÅrThis is the third album from Danish one-man black metal band Afsky.

Following on from 2018’s Sorg, 2020’s Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død, and 2022’s I Stilhed, Om Hundrede År contains 43 minutes of new material and is eagerly anticipated by many fans of atmospheric black metal. Continue reading “Afsky – Om Hundrede År (Review)”

Räum – Cursed by the Crown (Review)

Räum - Cursed by the CrownRäum are a Belgian post-black metal band and this is their debut album.

Cursed by the Crown contains 37 minutes of music, spread across four harsh post-blackened soundscapes. Räum weave desolate moods and grim, oppressive auras throughout this album. Theirs is a form of Continue reading “Räum – Cursed by the Crown (Review)”