This is the third album from Danish black metal band Sunken.
Since experiencing Sunken live at 2024’s Fortress Festival, I have been eagerly awaiting a new record from them. Now, it’s here – the 47-minute Lykke. Featuring 4 sprawling atmospheric black metal songs, Sunken have produced an album that’s extremely effective at what it does. Continue reading “Sunken – Lykke (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Danish solo black metal band Afsky.
If you aren’t familiar with Afsky, make sure you also check out 2018’s Sorg, 2020’s Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død, and 2023’s Om Hundrede År. None will disappoint. Which leads us to Fællesskab, and its 45 minutes of new material. Can the artist behind Afsky maintain his winning streak of quality black metal albums? Continue reading “Afsky – Fællesskab (Review)”
This is the second album by Canadian black metal band Vespéral.
La Mort de l’Âme contains 41 minutes of black metal, brought to us in part by members of Conifère. I wasn’t consciously aware of Vespéral before they were announced to play the mighty Fortress Festival next year, although I’ve definitely seen their logo and album art before, somewhere, somehow. Continue reading “Vespéral – La Mort de l’Âme (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)”
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)”
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)”
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 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)”
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)”
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)”
Wonderbox Metal 