I’ve never been to The Hairy Dog before, but it’s a great venue with a good vibe and good sound system. I don’t actually think I’ve ever been to Derby before at all, but if anything was going to entice me here, it was this year’s Reaper Festival, brought to us by the wonderful Reaper Agency UK. It was a great day overall, and I’d gladly attend such a well-organised show again. Sadly I could only make day one of the festival, which is a shame, as day two has many great bands too. Continue reading “Reaper Festival 2023 – Day One: Saturday – Ultha/Darkher/Coscradh/Dawn Ray’d/The Sun’s Journey Through the Night/Ruadh/Calligram/Cairns – Derby The Hairy Dog, 29/07/23 (Live Review)”
Tag: Atmospheric Black Metal
Starer – Wind, Breeze, or Breath (Review)
This is the third album from Starer, a one-man black metal band from the US.
It’s time for some new Starer once more! After making a splash with 2021’s stellar 18° Below the Horizon, and then following up with last year’s The What It Is to Be, the artist has returned to us once more. Wind, Breeze, or Breath contains 38 minutes of symphonic black metal, divided over seven movements, and it’s quite exceptionally good. Continue reading “Starer – Wind, Breeze, or Breath (Review)”
Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Fen (Interview)
Although I’d ideally love to be able to conduct hard-hitting, in-depth interviews, who has the time these days? In lieu of this, I’ve thrown together the below question template, hopefully to gather some interesting and informative results, without taking up too much of anyone’s time.
Introduce yourself – who are you and what do you do?
I am The Watcher – I play guitar and perform vocals. Continue reading “Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Fen (Interview)”
Sworn – A Journey Told Through Fire (Review)
Sworn are a Norwegian black metal band and this is their fourth album.
If you’re a fan of black metal with both melody and atmosphere, then A Journey Told Through Fire is a 50-minute feast of the stuff. Honestly, Sworn have something well above average going on here that combines the best of old and new. Continue reading “Sworn – A Journey Told Through Fire (Review)”
Uamh – At the Edge of the Loch (Review)
This is the debut album from, Uamh, a solo black metal band from the US.
At the Edge of the Loch is a 42-minute atmospheric black metal album that has a Celtic influence. Raw, but not overly so, the entire experience of this album is one that has quality of execution woven deep into its makeup. Continue reading “Uamh – At the Edge of the Loch (Review)”
Fen – Monuments to Absence (Review)
Fen are a UK black metal band and this is their seventh album.
I last caught up with Fen on their 2017 album Winter. Apparently they’ve had another album since then, (The Dead Light), which I somehow managed to completely miss, which is a shame. Regardless, it’s now time for Monuments to Absence and its 67 minutes of music to absorb. Continue reading “Fen – Monuments to Absence (Review)”
Wilt – Huginn (Review)
Wilt are a Canadian black metal band and this is their third album.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Wilt’s past material, (and bought the T-shirt too), so to say that I have been looking forward to Huginn is an understatement. Both 2015’s Moving Monoliths and 2018’s Ruin are exemplars of atmospheric black metal, and the new release Huginn is no exception. Continue reading “Wilt – Huginn (Review)”
None – Inevitable (Review)
None are a black metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.
If you’re unfamiliar with None, where have you been? Releasing three stellar records in a row, (2017’s None, 2018’s Life Has Gone on Long Enough, and 2019’s Damp Chill of Life), None have now finally returned with their longest album yet, the 56-minute Inevitable. Continue reading “None – Inevitable (Review)”
Another Black Autumn – Resplendent Apparitions at the Dawn (Review)
This is the debut album from US black metal band Another Black Autumn.
Containing members of Canis Dirus and Crown of Asteria, Another Black Autumn play atmospheric black metal. Across 31 minutes the band demonstrate a keen ability at producing black metal that doesn’t always do what you expect it to do. Continue reading “Another Black Autumn – Resplendent Apparitions at the Dawn (Review)”
Krigsgrav – Fires in the Fall (Review)
Krigsgrav are a black metal band from the US and this is their seventh album.
I haven’t caught up with Krigsgrav since their 2016 album Waves of Degradation, so it’s good to check in with them once more. Fires in the Fall contains 53 minutes of new material and reveals some changes to the band’s sound, which can be roughly and facetiously summarised as shorter songs, more doom. Continue reading “Krigsgrav – Fires in the Fall (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 