Ossomancer – Artes Magickae (Review)

Ossomancer - Artes MagickaeOssomancer is a black metal entity from the US and this is their debut album.

Ossomancer combine old and new, taking a base of second wave black metal and transporting it to the present day. Continue reading “Ossomancer – Artes Magickae (Review)”

Haunter – Sacramental Death Qualia (Review)

Haunter - Sacramental Death QualiaThis is the second album from US black/death metallers Haunter.

Sacramental Death Qualia is a mutant, constantly-shifting hybrid of progressive black/death metal. Mixing impenetrable dissonance with grim blackened melody and classic progressive beauty, the music combines darkness and light in such way that it can be almost jarring on Continue reading “Haunter – Sacramental Death Qualia (Review)”

Winterfylleth – The Siege of Mercia: Live at Bloodstock Festival 2017 (Review)

Winterfylleth - The Siege of Mercia Live at Bloodstock Festival 2017This is a live album from Winterfylleth, a black metal band from the UK.

Winterfylleth are one of those bands that I always think I should have gotten around to listening to by now, but never have. As such, this live album seemed like as good a place as any to sample their wares. Containing five live tracks taken from the band’s first four albums, and a synth version of a track off their second album The Mercian Sphere, we are overall presented with 49 minutes of material in its entirety. Continue reading “Winterfylleth – The Siege of Mercia: Live at Bloodstock Festival 2017 (Review)”

Cloud Rat – Pollinator/Do Not Let Me Off the Cliff (Review)

Cloud Rat - Pollinator Do Not Let Me Off the CliffThis is the fourth album from Cloud Rat, a grindcore band from the US.

In my humble opinion Cloud Rat are one of the most forward-thinking, talented, and innovative grindcore bands out there, although simply labelling them grindcore is misleading and constricting, as their work frequently features so much more than your standard grindcore fare. Releases such as Qliphoth, and their various splits demonstrate this amply. Continue reading “Cloud Rat – Pollinator/Do Not Let Me Off the Cliff (Review)”

Mithridatic – Tetanos Mystique (Review)

Mithridatic - Tetanos MystiqueThis is the second album from French blackened death metallers Mithridatic.

2016’s Miserable Miracle was heavy and dirty, in a very good way. Blackened death metal of this sort is frequently done poorly, but Mithridatic got the formula right on their debut album. Continue reading “Mithridatic – Tetanos Mystique (Review)”

Asagraum – Dawn of Infinite Fire (Review)

Asagraum - Dawn of Infinite FireAsagraum are an international black metal band and this is their second album.

After 2017’s enjoyable Potestas Magicum Diaboli, Asagraum are now back with another 46 minutes of second wave black metal worship. Continue reading “Asagraum – Dawn of Infinite Fire (Review)”

Runespell – Voice of Opprobrium (Review)

Runespell - Voice of OpprobriumRunespell is a solo black metal band from Australia, and this is his third album.

I’ve enjoyed both Unhallowed Blood Oath and Order of Vengeance, and now this new album, hot on the heels of the previous one, has arrived to sate my never-ending thirst for black metal. Continue reading “Runespell – Voice of Opprobrium (Review)”

Eclipser – Pathos (Review)

Eclipser - PathosThis is the debut album from Canadian black metallers Eclipser.

This is black metal played with dark brutality and dissonant intensity. It’s a blackened hybrid that focuses more on black metal than anything else, but still finds time to incorporate death metal elements into itself with a voracious hunger. It’s Continue reading “Eclipser – Pathos (Review)”