Atmospheric Black Metal – Page 2

Starer – Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness (Review)

This is the fourth album from Starer, a one-man black metal band from the US.

Since appearing out of nowhere with the wonderful 18° Below the Horizon in 2021, the artist behind Starer has been busy. We’ve had two subsequent full lengths, (2022’s The What It Is to Be and 2023’s Wind, Breeze, or Breath), and a plethora of other smaller releases. he’s now back with the 49-minute Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness, and it’s a cracking record. Continue reading “Starer – Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness (Review)”

Sterveling – Sterveling (Review)

This is the debut album from solo Dutch black metal band Sterveling.

Brought to us by an ex-member of Wesenwille, Sterveling brings us three sprawling songs across 43 minutes. Despite being a solo act, there are three others involved in the album who provide vocals, synths and additional vocals. Continue reading “Sterveling – Sterveling (Review)”

Fauna – Ochre & Ash (Review)

This is the fourth album from US black metal band Fauna.

Containing members of Echtra and Eigenlicht, Fauna play Cascadian atmospheric black metal. Ochre & Ash is the unexpected follow up to 2012’s masterpiece Avifauna, so to say I have high expectations for the 70 minutes of Ochre & Ash is an understatement. Continue reading “Fauna – Ochre & Ash (Review)”

Æl-Fierlen – All Is Far Away (Review)

This is the debut album from UK blackgaze band Æl-Fierlen.

Æl-Fierlen play an evocative form of blackened Gothic metal, (for lack of a better term), that incorporates atmospheric black metal, doom, blackgaze, and folk into a compelling musical framework. Containing 34 minutes of music, All Is Far Away is an underground gem of an album. Continue reading “Æl-Fierlen – All Is Far Away (Review)”

Krigsgrav – Stormcaller (Review)

Krigsgrav are a black metal band from the US and this is their eighth album.

Stormcaller is the 52-minute follow up to 2023’s well-received Fires in the Fall. Krigsgrav have already proven their worth at this point, so I was looking forward to what this new record brought. Continue reading “Krigsgrav – Stormcaller (Review)”

Autrest – Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves (Review)

This is the second album from Brazilian solo black metal act Autrest.

On Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves, the artist behind Autrest provides us with 42 minutes of nature-inspired atmospheric black metal. It’s well crafted, and the artist clearly knows what he’s doing. Continue reading “Autrest – Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves (Review)”

Rauhnåcht – Zwischenwelten (Review)

This is the fifth album from Austrian solo black metal band Rauhnåcht.

My last encounter with Rauhnåcht was 11 years ago (!) on Urzeitgeist, so I’m long overdue a visit to these pagan black metal lands. Across 41 minutes of material, Zwischenwelten reveals an artist that has apparently only continued to refine and improve his art over time. Continue reading “Rauhnåcht – Zwischenwelten (Review)”

Vakker – What Will Become of Our Pain (Review)

This is the debut album from US black metal band Vakker.

I only encountered What Will Become of Our Pain due to a random social media recommendation, and I’m very glad I did. Vakker play atmospheric black metal, only with the sort of horrific, monstrous vocals that you wouldn’t normally associate with the style. Continue reading “Vakker – What Will Become of Our Pain (Review)”

Rhizaria – Indulgences (Review)

This is the debut album from US black/death metal band Rhizaria.

Rhizaria play a progressive form of black and death metal, delivering a hybrid style that’s irregular, and very compelling. Indulgences contains 40 minutes of material that scratches a very particular itch that sits right in a hard to reach place between atmosphere and dissonance. Continue reading “Rhizaria – Indulgences (Review)”

Oskoreien – Hollow Fangs (Review)

This is the third album from US black metal band Oskoreien.

After enjoying both previous Oskoreien albums, it’s come as a surprise to discover that I never actually reviewed either of them. Hollow Fangs is a great opportunity to remedy this, and it’s Oskoreien’s first outing as a full band too. Hollow Fangs contains 39 minutes of new material, so let’s dive in. Continue reading “Oskoreien – Hollow Fangs (Review)”