Barrowlands – Tyndir (Review

BarrowlandsBarrowlands are from the US and play progressive black metal. This is their second album.

Tyndir is a case study in dark emotion and bleak, sorrowful atmospheres. The songs are progressive explorations of the awe and majesty of nature, replete with all of the danger and lurking terror that seems to accompany a dark forest in the dead of night. Continue reading “Barrowlands – Tyndir (Review”

Raventale – Planetarium (Review)

RaventaleThis is the eighth album from Ukrainian one-man black metal band Raventale.

Planetarium contains four songs spread out over 39 minutes. It’s atmospheric black metal that’s dark, affecting, and highly engaging. Continue reading “Raventale – Planetarium (Review)”

Blaze of Perdition – Conscious Darkness (Review)

Blaze of PerditionThis is the fourth album from Polish black metallers Blaze of Perdition.

2015’s Near Death Revelations was a hideously enjoyable release, succeeding in capturing the essence of what makes sophisticated, forward-thinking black metal so compelling and engaging. Continue reading “Blaze of Perdition – Conscious Darkness (Review)”

Widziadło – Void (Review)

WidziadłoWidziadło are a Polish black metal band and this is their debut album.

This is atmospheric black metal, with expansive songs and cosmic themes.

Void is a multifaceted release that takes its various influences and Continue reading “Widziadło – Void (Review)”

Wolves in the Throne Room – Thrice Woven (Review)

Wolves in the Throne RoomThis is the sixth album from US black metal band Wolves in the Throne Room.

After 2014’s Celestite, which saw the band take a significant departure from the norm into expansive ambient soundscapes, this latest release returns to the band’s atmospheric black metal roots, with 42 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Wolves in the Throne Room – Thrice Woven (Review)”

Ty – The Golden Soul and the Hunger Feelings (Review)

TyTy are an atmospheric/post-black metal band from Venezuela and this is their debut album.

It was the album cover that drew me to this release, and I’m glad it did. This is obscure, underground black metal that focuses on atmosphere and mood rather than aggression or blackened hatred. Continue reading “Ty – The Golden Soul and the Hunger Feelings (Review)”

All My Sins – Lunar/Solar (Review)

All My SinsAll My Sins are a Serbian black metal band and this is their debut EP.

This is the band’s first EP after two demos that came out over 13 years ago. Hopefully we won’t have to wait just as long for any further material in the future. Continue reading “All My Sins – Lunar/Solar (Review)”

Nyss – Princesse Terre (Three Studies of Silence and Death) (Review)

NyssNyss are a French ambient/atmospheric black metal band and this is their debut album.

Nyss play raw, underground black metal that’s inspired by the second wave, but then fleshed out by atmospheric and ambient influences. Continue reading “Nyss – Princesse Terre (Three Studies of Silence and Death) (Review)”

Leucosis – Liminal (Review)

LeucosisLeucosis are a US black metal band and this is their third album.

This is atmospheric black metal merged with a rawer USBM approach. This results in music that has a lot of both presence and strength, which is one of the reasons why I find Leucosis’ work so compelling. Continue reading “Leucosis – Liminal (Review)”

Der Weg Einer Freiheit – Finisterre (Review)

Der Weg Einer FreiheitThis is the fourth album from German black metal band Der Weg Einer Freiheit.

This is dark and emotive black metal that mixes an atmospheric approach with one born out of a love of furious aggression and blazing extremity. Imagine a mix of Wolves in the Throne Room, Downfall of Gaia, Alcest, and Marduk; taking the best elements of each to form an atmospheric and molten delivery. Continue reading “Der Weg Einer Freiheit – Finisterre (Review)”