This is the second album from Belgian black metallers Ars Veneficium.
I really liked 2016’s The Reign of the Infernal King; the band’s fiery black metal left lasting marks. A new album feels overdue, so it’s with great anticipation that we turn to Usurpation of the Seven and its 38 minutes of dark blackened mayhem. Continue reading “Ars Veneficium – Usurpation of the Seven (Review)”
Ilienses Tree are an Italian death/doom metal band and this is their debut album.
After really enjoying 2017’s Edda, it’s good to now have a full length from Ilienses Tree. Continue reading “Ilienses Tree – Till Autumn Comes (Review)”
This is the second album from Xenobiotic, an Australian deathcore/death metal band.
2018’s Prometheus was a deathcore highlight for me, so I was looking forward to what they had in store for us next. I was not expecting just how good Mordrake is though. The band have progressed, and progressed well. Continue reading “Xenobiotic – Mordrake (Review)”
Crown of Asteria is a one-woman black metal band from the US, and Nodus Tollens in a one-man black metal band, also from the US.
The split opens with the single 19-minute track Claw of the Firemaker by Crown of Asteria. The style is nature-influenced atmospheric black metal with elements of doom, folk, and ambient mixed in. It’s raw and unpolished, but this simply adds to the music’s charms. Continue reading “Crown of Asteria/Nodus Tollens – Split (Review)”
Tombs are a post-black metal band from the US, and this is their latest EP.
Tombs have a strong track record, (Savage Gold, All Empires Fall, The Grand Annihilation), so ensuring I listened to this release was an easy choice. Having undergone a twisted rebirth of sorts, (three out of the four members are new), the latest Tombs EP marks a more-collaborative version of the band, and the results are impressive. Continue reading “Tombs – Monarchy of Shadows (Review)”
This is the debut album from Mourir, a black metal band from France.
The music on Animal Bouffe Animal takes influence from the Scandinavian second wave, but then updates this with modern touches and uncomfortable dissonance, scathing sludge, and harrowing doom. The end result is 34 minutes of atmospheric rawness that combines old and new to produce something hideously enjoyable. Continue reading “Mourir – Animal Bouffe Animal (Review)”
This is the debut album from US heavy metal band Throne of Iron.
“Highly recommended for fans of Dungeons & Dragons, Eternal Champion, Visigoth and Manilla Road!”, states the promo blurb, and it’s hard to disagree. Adventure One provides 42 minutes of classic metal escapism and fun, and I like what Throne of Iron are peddling. Continue reading “Throne of Iron – Adventure One (Review)”
This is the latest EP from Ihsahn, a legendary black, progressive, and experimental metal artist.
Containing 5 tracks, including two covers, (Iron Maiden and Lenny Kravitz), Ihsahn’s latest EP features 26 minutes showcasing the artist’s more aggressive side. Continue reading “Ihsahn – Telemark (Review)”
Blaze of Perdition are a Polish black metal band and this is their fifth album.
A new Blaze of Perdition album is always welcome, with both 2015’s Near Death Revelations and 2017’s Conscious Darkness setting high standards. Pleasingly, The Harrowing of Hearts doesn’t let the side down, and offers 51 minutes of quality material, including a Fields of the Nephilim cover that closes the album. Continue reading “Blaze of Perdition – The Harrowing of Hearts (Review)”
This is the second album from French black metallers Pénitence Onirique.
It seems like ages ago that V.I.T.R.I.O.L. came out, and it was 2016 I suppose. The record made an impression, so I’m pleased to now be presented with its successor Vestige; 53 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Pénitence Onirique – Vestige (Review)”
