Ashbringer are an atmospheric black metal band from the US and this is their third album.
Ashbringer’s black metal combines aggressive blackness with melodic sensibilities and folk-influenced post-rock reflection. Elements of bands such as Fen, Agalloch, Falls of Rauros, Amiensus, and Alcest can be heard, but moulded and channelled through Ashbringer’s own collective experiences and personality. Continue reading “Ashbringer – Absolution (Review)”
This is the debut release from Unknown Artist, a French extreme metal band.
What on earth is this unholy abomination? A single 28-minute track of utter nastiness and horror, that’s what. Complex and impenetrable, this is disjointed, inaccessible blackened death metal, and is not for the weak of heart. Continue reading “Unknown Artist – A Pig’s Head on a Stick (Review)”
Chernaa are an international, (Czech Republic/Ukraine/Russia), post-black metal band and this is their debut album.
The promo blurb for this album stated that it was for fans of Deafheaven, Oathbreaker, Wolves in the Throne Room, Wiegedood, and Harakiri for the Sky, so I knew that I had to at least give it a listen. Then, having skimmed through a couple of their videos, I knew I Continue reading “Chernaa – Empyrean Fire (Review)”
This is the debut album from US black metal band Murk Rider.
Three enormous songs, with a combined duration of 82 minutes? Okay, I’ll bite.
An album of depth, both musically and thematically, Exile of Shadows is black metal in only one of its aspects, albeit a primary one. The band also occasionally incorporate apocalyptic sludge and stoner doom into their melting pot, as well as strands of classic heavy and speed metal. This curious, (yet effective), mixture means that Continue reading “Murk Rider – Exile of Shadows (Review)”
Itheist are a UK black/death metal band and this is their debut album.
Previously named Aetherium Mors, this is the band’s first release under its new moniker. This is modern, dissonant black metal that’s been hybridised with death metal and energised with melodic darkness. Continue reading “Itheist – Itheist (Review)”
This is the debut album from Temple Koludra, a German black metal band.
Temple Koludra’s music uses black and death metal to craft a grim, raw exploration of Indian cultures and influences via extreme metal’s embracing framework. Continue reading “Temple Koludra – Seven! Sirens! To a Lost Archetype (Review)”
This Gift Is a Curse are a blackened sludge band from Sweden and this is their third album.
Here we have 45 minutes of hateful extremity that combines black metal, sludge, and hardcore. It’s violent, world-ending music that’s wreathed in both aggression and atmosphere most foul. Continue reading “This Gift Is a Curse – A Throne of Ash (Review)”
This is the second album from Russian post-black metal band Haze of Summer.
I enjoyed 2017’s Znoi, and on the band’s new release we get a further 33 minutes of melodic post-black metal. The album follows on from Znoi, even down to the tracklisting, which picks up where the last one left off. Continue reading “Haze of Summer – Stuzha (Review)”
Ancient Hostility are a Ukrainian/US black metal band and this is their debut album.
This is, on the surface of things, a second wave black metal album, full of the sort of misanthropy and hatred that you’d expect for something like this. Scratch the surface, however, (and by this I mean actually listen to it), and you’ll also find a bit more than the norm here. Continue reading “Ancient Hostility – Ancient Hostility (Review)”
Enthroned are a black metal band from Belgium and this is their eleventh album.
Following on from 2014’s Sovereigns, which I really liked, we now have a new 49 minutes of material from this legendary band. Continue reading “Enthroned – Cold Black Suns (Review)”
