This is the second album from UK solo black metal band Noctule.
The artist behind Noctule, (from Svalbard), brings us 39 minutes of melodic black and death metal on Extinguish Thy Flame. The music of Noctule has taken an assured step forward with this new record. Continue reading “Noctule – Extinguish Thy Flame (Review)”
This is the sixth album from black metal band Fluisteraars, who are from the Netherlands.
Jacht der Mysteriën blesses us with three tracks equalling 42 minutes of music. Fluisteraars have a well-developed personality, and Jacht der Mysteriën is surely one of their more idiosyncratic releases. The music may ultimately be atmospheric black metal, but it’s an atypical expression of the style for sure. Continue reading “Fluisteraars – Jacht der Mysteriën (Review)”
It’s the inaugural Tynebound, brought to us by the lovely Reaper Agency. It’s a sister festival of this year’s Reaper Festival, and if it’s even half as good as that was, this weekend will be a smashing success. With a great lineup over both days, it’s time to embrace the northern darkness. Continue reading “Tynebound 2026 – Anarchy Brew Co, Newcastle upon Tyne, 05/09/26-06/09/26 (Live Review)”
Sworn are a Norwegian black metal band and this is their fifth album.
Sworn are one of the best melodic black metal bands active right now. Coming off a genuinely top tier previous album, (2023’s A Journey Told Through Fire), and with a strong back catalogue overall, any new Sworn material is going to be hotly anticipated. Enter the 44-minute Null Crowned the Infinite. Continue reading “Sworn – Null Crowned the Infinite (Review)”
Fen are a UK black metal band and this is their eighth album.
Following on from 2023’s Monuments to Absence, Fen have now returned with 47 minutes of new material in the form of Elemental Part One: Mourning Earth. As the name might suggest, this is the first part of two. Continue reading “Fen – Elemental Part One: Mourning Earth (Review)”
This is the latest EP from Russian black/death metal band Thanatomass.
Following on from 2023’s Hades, Thanatomass have now returned with the three-track EP The Rabid Dead. Across 20 minutes, Thanatomass deliver a scorching display of corrosive black/death nastiness. Continue reading “Thanatomass – The Rabid Dead (Review)”
Death. Void. Terror. are a black/doom metal band from Switzerland, and this is their latest EP.
This 3-track release from Death. Void. Terror. brings us something otherworldly and foul to become absorbed in. Seeping out its foul corruption across 29 minutes of material, To the Great Monolith 2.5 delivers an unholy ritual that’s sure to ensnare many of the unwary. Continue reading “Death. Void. Terror. – To the Great Monolith 2.5 (Review)”
Tonight’s bill is a red hot one, and the opportunity to see Spectral Wound in an intimate venue like Gorilla is not to be missed. Continue reading “Spectral Wound/Final Dose – Gorilla, Manchester – 06/08/26 (Live Review)”
Wormwood are a Swedish black metal band and this is their latest release.
This short, two-track EP follows on from 2024’s The Star, bringing us a another dose of Wormwood’s intelligently crafted progressive black metal. With a duration of 16 minutes, Å showcases Wormwood’s notable talents in an easy-to-digest format that nonetheless has plenty to explore at length. Continue reading “Wormwood – Å (Review)”
This is the third album from US black metal band Hulder.
Following on from 2022’s The Eternal Fanfare and 2024’s Verses in Oath, comes the 49-minute Verbolgen, which is Hulder’s first as a duo. Verbolgen is old-school black metal, delivered with contemporary skill and vision. If you’re familiar with Hulder’s past work, then this new record is the next step along the artist’s path, a progression most welcome. Continue reading “Hulder – Verbolgen (Review)”
