Blackbraid – Blackbraid I (Review)

Blackbraid - Blackbraid IThis is the debut album from black metal solo act Blackbraid.

The music on Blackbraid I is a form of black metal that takes from the classic and atmospheric styles to create something all of its own. Native American folk influences can also be heard, and these are well-integrated into the music’s Continue reading “Blackbraid – Blackbraid I (Review)”

Liminal Shroud – All Virtues Ablaze (Review)

Liminal Shroud - All Virtues AblazeThis is the second album from Canadian black metal band Liminal Shroud.

Liminal Shroud play atmospheric black metal with a combination of immersive atmosphere, melodic weight, and blistering aggression. All Virtues Ablaze contains 40 minutes of material that’s carved up into four songs. Continue reading “Liminal Shroud – All Virtues Ablaze (Review)”

Grima – Frostbitten (Review)

Grima - FrostbittenThis is the fifth album from Russian black metal band Grima.

Containing members of Second to Sun, Frostbitten presents us with 49 minutes of atmospheric black metal, and it does so with singular skill, talent, and delivery. Continue reading “Grima – Frostbitten (Review)”

Hulder – The Eternal Fanfare (Review)

Hulder - The Eternal FanfareThis is the latest EP from Hulder, a one-woman black metal band from the US.

A 26-minute mini-album, The Eternal Fanfare has strong roots in the classic 90s era. It uses these influences well, but is not restricted by them. The artist behind the band clearly knows what she wants to achieve with her music, and uses influences Continue reading “Hulder – The Eternal Fanfare (Review)”

Saor – Origins (Review)

Saor - OriginsThis is the fifth album from UK one-man black metal band Saor.

Brought to us by the artist behind Fuath, (and also an ex-member of Falloch), Saor’s music is well-regarded, although this is my first encounter with it. My loss, it seems, as Origins offers up a very compelling 41 minutes of atmospheric black metal. Continue reading “Saor – Origins (Review)”

Blut Aus Nord – Disharmonium – Undreamable Abysses (Review)

Blut Aus Nord - Disharmonium - Undreamable AbyssesThis is the fourteenth album from Blut Aus Nord, a French black metal band.

A new Blut Aus Nord release is always worth paying attention to. Over the years the band have ranged through a variety of dark, blackened styles, (see some examples, here, here, here, and here), so what delights does Disharmonium – Undreamable Abysses hold? Continue reading “Blut Aus Nord – Disharmonium – Undreamable Abysses (Review)”

Predatory Light – Death and the Twilight Hours (Review)

Predatory Light - Death and the Twilight HoursThis is the second album from US black metallers Predatory Light.

Featuring current and ex-members of Vanum and Ash Borer, Death and the Twilight Hours contains 38 minutes of charismatic black metal, and is the follow up to 2016’s Predatory Light. Continue reading “Predatory Light – Death and the Twilight Hours (Review)”

In Twilight’s Embrace – Lifeblood (Review)

In Twilight's Embrace - LifebloodThis is the sixth album from Polish black metallers In Twilight’s Embrace.

Featuring current and ex-members of Bloodthirst and Blaze of Perdition, In Twilight’s Embrace offer up 48 minutes of blackened darkness on Lifeblood. Continue reading “In Twilight’s Embrace – Lifeblood (Review)”

Aara – Triade II: Hemera (Review)

Aara - Triade II HemeraThis is the fourth album from Swiss black metallers Aara, (who feature members of Modern Rites and Porta Nigra).

Following hot on the heels of last year’s Triade I: Eos comes Triade II: Hemera, which gives us 42 minutes of new material. Aara play a hybrid form of black metal that combines the atmospheric and the melodic styles into their own brand of scathing darkness. Continue reading “Aara – Triade II: Hemera (Review)”

Ante-Inferno – Antediluvian Dreamscapes (Review)

Ante-Inferno - Antediluvian DreamscapesThis is the second album from UK black metal act Ante-Inferno.

Ante-Inferno play atmospheric black metal, and on Antediluvian Dreamscapes they deliver 43 minutes of contemporary blackened darkness. Continue reading “Ante-Inferno – Antediluvian Dreamscapes (Review)”