Noctule – Wretched Abyss (Review)

Noctule - Wretched AbyssNoctule is a one-woman black metal band from the UK, and this is her debut album.

Brought to us by the singer/guitarist of Svalbard, Wretched Abyss is a 42-minute Skyrim-themed album that takes some of the darker and melodic elements you can hear in Svalbard’s sound, and wraps them around a blackened core. Continue reading “Noctule – Wretched Abyss (Review)”

Borgne – Temps Morts (Review)

Borgne - Temps MortsThis is the tenth album from Swiss black metal act Borgne.

Featuring a member of Enoid and Ancient Moon, Borgne play industrial black metal, and Temps Morts contains 73 minutes of the layered darkness. Continue reading “Borgne – Temps Morts (Review)”

Awenden/Feminazgûl – Split (Review)

Awenden Feminazgul - SplitAwenden and Feminazgûl are both atmospheric black metal bands from the US, and they have teamed up for this split release; three songs, 30 minutes in total.

We start with a single track from Awenden, which is a solo act with guests, (vocals/flute). Continue reading “Awenden/Feminazgûl – Split (Review)”

Nemorous – Nemorous (Review)

Nemorous - NemorousNemorous are a UK black metal band and this is their debut EP.

Nemorous contains 36 minutes of music in the form of four original tracks, (three songs), and a cover of a In Gowan Ring song. Featuring current and ex-members of bands such as Wodensthrone, Ahamkara, Vacivus, and Axis of Perdition, you know that Nemerous are an experienced bunch before the record even starts. Continue reading “Nemorous – Nemorous (Review)”

Olhava – Frozen Bloom (Review)

Olhava - Frozen BloomOlhava are a Russian black metal band and this is their fourth album.

Frozen Bloom is a 59-minute exploration of loss and mournful intensity. The band’s post-blackened brew is concocted from the bones of atmospheric black metal, blackgaze’s warmth of emotion, dark ambience, and synth-driven drone. Continue reading “Olhava – Frozen Bloom (Review)”

Inferno – Paradeigma (Phosphenes of Aphotic Eternity) (Review)

Inferno - Paradeigma (Phosphenes of Aphotic Eternity)Inferno are a black metal band from the Czech Republic and this is their eighth album.

I always enjoy a new encounter with the work from Inferno. Both 2013’s Omniabsence Filled by His Greatness and 2017’s Gnosis Kardias (of Transcension and Involution) were enjoyable and satisfying examples of sophisticated black metal art. Continue reading “Inferno – Paradeigma (Phosphenes of Aphotic Eternity) (Review)”

Order of the Wolf/Pessimista – Split (Review)

Order of the Wolf Pessimista - SplitThis is a split between two solo bands rooted in black metal – Order of the Wolf from the UK and Pessimista from Brazil.

This actually came out last year originally, but is now getting a tape release. This is my first encounter with both bands, and this split acts as a very good introduction to them. Continue reading “Order of the Wolf/Pessimista – Split (Review)”

Coldcell – The Greater Evil (Review)

Coldcell - The Greater EvilThis is the fourth album from Swiss black metallers Coldcell.

Featuring the drummer of Schammasch and guest vocals on two songs by the singer of Zatokrev, Coldcell spend 49 minutes delivering atmospheric modern black metal that’s sinister and layered with existential dread. Continue reading “Coldcell – The Greater Evil (Review)”

Spectral Lore – Ετερόφωτος (Review)

Spectral Lore - ΕτερόφωτοςSpectral Lore is a one-man Greek atmospheric black metal band, and this is his fifth album.

I was quite excited to see a new Spectral Lore release so soon after the masterful Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine – a colossal split with Mare Cognitum. This new album is pretty colossal too, containing a whopping 79 minutes of music, and it’s every bit as good as you think it is for the most part. Continue reading “Spectral Lore – Ετερόφωτος (Review)”