Mazikeen – The Solace of Death (Review)

Mazikeen - The Solace of DeathMazikeen are an Australian black metal band. This is their debut album.

There’s 78 minutes of material here, spread out over 12 tracks. The main album consists of the first eight songs, with the final four being bonus covers of Mayhem, Dissection, Dimmu Borgir, and Darkthrone songs. Continue reading “Mazikeen – The Solace of Death (Review)”

From the Vastland – The Haft Khan (Review)

From the Vastland - The Haft KhanFrom the Vastland is an Iranian/Norwegian black metal band and this is their sixth album.

We’re familiar with From the Vastland’s work – both 2016’s Chamrosh and 2018’s Daevayasna were enjoyable examples of classic blackened fury. The Haft Khan provides us with another seven songs in a similar vein; 46 minutes of new material to enjoy. Continue reading “From the Vastland – The Haft Khan (Review)”

Árstíðir Lífsins – Saga á tveim tungum II: Eigi fjǫll né firðir (Review)

Arstidir Lifsins - Saga IIÁrstíðir Lífsins are an international, (Germany/Iceland), black metal band, and this is their fifth album.

Here we have 74 minutes of pagan black metal, incorporating elements of the atmospheric, folk, and ambient styles. Continue reading “Árstíðir Lífsins – Saga á tveim tungum II: Eigi fjǫll né firðir (Review)”

Bait – Revelation of the Pure (Review)

Bait - Revelation of the PureBait are a German blackened hardcore band and this is their debut album.

Featuring a member of Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Bait play post-black metal with hardcore bite. Offering 45 minutes of aggressive darkness, Revelation of the Pure is a worthy listen. Continue reading “Bait – Revelation of the Pure (Review)”

Cosmic Putrefaction – The Horizons Towards Which Splendour Withers (Review)

Cosmic Putrefaction - The Horizons Towards Which Splendour WithersCosmic Putrefaction is a one-man death metal band from Italy.

Here we have 34 minutes of progressive death metal, which takes us on a cosmic journey through the outer regions, taking in doom and black metal sights along the way. Continue reading “Cosmic Putrefaction – The Horizons Towards Which Splendour Withers (Review)”

Ashtar – Kaikuja (Review)

Ashtar - KaikujaAshtar are from Switzerland and play blackened doom. This is their second album.

It’s been five years since we were graced with Ashtar’s presence; Ilmasaari was a very notable and satisfying record, and Kaijuka even more so. Continue reading “Ashtar – Kaikuja (Review)”

Afsky – Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død (Review)

Afsky - Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig DødAfsky is a one-man Danish black metal band and this is his second album.

Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død is the follow up to the very enjoyable Sorg from 2018, and contains 46 minutes of new material. Mixing small parts of folk and doom into a traditional black metal approach, this is a melancholic and emotive take on the blackened style. Continue reading “Afsky – Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død (Review)”

Winterfylleth – The Reckoning Dawn (Review)

Winterfylleth - The Reckoning DawnWinterfylleth are a UK black metal band and this is their seventh album.

My first introduction to Winterfylleth was with last year’s The Siege of Mercia, which I really enjoyed. As such, I knew I had to check out The Reckoning Dawn when it appeared. Continue reading “Winterfylleth – The Reckoning Dawn (Review)”

Forgotten Tomb – Nihilistic Estrangement (Review)

Forgotten Tomb - Nihilistic EstrangementThis is the tenth album from Forgotten Tomb, an Italian black/doom/sludge metal band.

2015’s Hurt Yourself and the Ones You Love and 2017’s We Owe You Nothing are both favourites of mine, so it’s great to have some new work from Forgotten Tomb, especially something as well-wrought as Nihilistic Estrangement. Continue reading “Forgotten Tomb – Nihilistic Estrangement (Review)”