Atmospheric Black Metal – Page 4

Ahamkara – The Harrow of the Lost (Review)

This is the second album by UK black metal band Ahamkara.

I’ve been waiting for a new Ahamkara album since 2014, which is a shockingly long time to wait for anything. The Embers of the Stars was a damn good album though, so now that a new record is here, it was not one I wanted to overlook. Unfortunately, it seems there was a good reason for this delay, as the promo blurb tells us – “Following ten years of silence after the release of their debut album “The Embers of the Stars” and the untimely death of vocalist Steven, Ahamkara return with a new lineup and new album “The Harrow of the Lost”, an unflinching exploration of the transformative nature of grief.” Continue reading “Ahamkara – The Harrow of the Lost (Review)”

Silver Knife – Silver Knife (Review)

Silver Knife are an international post-black metal band and this is their second album.

Silver Knife is the 47-minute successor to 2020’s well-received Unyielding/Unseeing. Containing the extremely busy and talented Déhà, as well as current/ex-members of Burial Remains, Laster, Monads, Paramnesia, and Vuur & Zijde, Silver Knife is an album with a lot of experience poured into it, and it shows. Continue reading “Silver Knife – Silver Knife (Review)”

Ultha/Ante-Inferno/Andracca – Rebellion, Manchester – 15/03/25 (Live Review)

Featuring Andracca and Ante-Inferno, two of the leading lights of the UK black metal underground, as well as the mighty Ultha, this was a show I could not afford to miss. Especially as, in my humble opinion, Ultha are probably the best modern black metal band in the world. It promises to be a great show. Continue reading “Ultha/Ante-Inferno/Andracca – Rebellion, Manchester – 15/03/25 (Live Review)”

Blood Abscission – I I (Review)

This is the second album from black metal band Blood Abscission.

I I contains 41 minutes of black metal that’s melodic and atmospheric. However, this is such a simple description for something so exceptional. Blood Abscission have created a record that’s destined to stay with me for some time. Holy crap this is good. Continue reading “Blood Abscission – I I (Review)”

Borgne – Renaître de ses Fanges (Review)

This is the eleventh album from Swiss black metal act Borgne.

I really enjoyed 2021’s Temps Morts, so was eager to check out what Renaître de ses Fanges had to offer. With 65 minutes of music to absorb and digest, Borgne’s latest is a satiating meal of atmospheric industrial-tinged black metal flavour. Convincingly demonstrating that Temps Morts was not a one off, Renaître de ses Fanges has more than met my expectations. Continue reading “Borgne – Renaître de ses Fanges (Review)”

Délirant – Thoughteater (Review)

This is the second album from Spanish black metal solo act Délirant.

Thoughteater contains 38 minutes of swirling dissonance, esoteric atmosphere, and dark aggression. With a promo blurb that references bands such as Blut Aus Nord, Akhlys, Deathspell Omega, Abigor, and Misþyrming, are you ready for the nightmare experience that the artist behind Délirant offers up? Continue reading “Délirant – Thoughteater (Review)”

Grima – Nightside (Review)

This is the sixth album from Russian black metal band Grima.

2022’s Frostbitten was an enjoyable record of atmospheric black metal, so I was looking forward to hearing Nightside. It’s a collection of mood-rich tracks that offers an enthralling journey into the cold blackened night. Continue reading “Grima – Nightside (Review)”

Ofnus – Valediction (Review)

This is the second album from UK black metal band Ofnus.

Ofnus, (who feature an ex-member of Agrona), present us with 58 minutes of atmospheric black metal on Valediction. I’d heard good things about the band’s debut album, (I need to go check that out), but this is my first time hearing Ofnus and they have exceeded expectations. Continue reading “Ofnus – Valediction (Review)”

Saor – Amidst the Ruins (Review)

This is the sixth album from UK one-man black metal band Saor.

After my 2022 introduction to Saor via the enjoyable Origins, I’ve since explored their back catalogue some more, and also seen them live and bought the t-shirt. This means I’ve been looking forward to Amidst the Ruins a great deal. Continue reading “Saor – Amidst the Ruins (Review)”

The Great Old Ones – Kadath (Review)

The Great Old Ones are a French black metal band and this is their fifth album.

It’s been six long years since 2019’s Cosmicism, but we finally have some new material from The Great Old Ones. I thoroughly enjoy their work, (also check out 2014’s Tekeli-li and 2017’s EOD: A Tale of Dark Legacy), so greedily consuming Kadath as soon as I could was always going to happen. Continue reading “The Great Old Ones – Kadath (Review)”