From the Vastland – Daevayasna (Review)

From the Vastland - DaevayasnaFrom the Vastland is an Iranian/Norwegian black metal band and this is their fifth album.

I enjoyed 2016’s Chamrosh, and Daevayasna provides us with another 47 minutes of classic black metal fury. The artist behind this project is rounded out by a full band for Daevayasna, boasting current and ex-members of Continue reading “From the Vastland – Daevayasna (Review)”

Azaghal – Valo Pohjoisesta (Review)

Azaghal - Valo PohjoisestaAzaghal are a Finnish black metal band and this is their eleventh album.

It’s been many, many years since I last heard Azaghal. This is definitely my loss, as I was a huge fan of the band at one point. Unfortunately I just lost track of what they were doing, for no particular reason, so it’s great to have the opportunity to catch up with them on their latest release. Continue reading “Azaghal – Valo Pohjoisesta (Review)”

Hekata – Ruin (Review)

hekata - ruinHekata are a Russian death metal band and this is their debut album.

Hekata play a virulent mix of death metal, black metal, hardcore, crust, and grind. It’s quite the mix, and essentially results in songs that merge these influences into blackened slabs of Scandinavian-influenced deathcrustcore. Or something. You get the idea, I’m sure. Continue reading “Hekata – Ruin (Review)”

Altarage – The Approaching Roar (Review)

altarage - the approaching roarAltarage are a Spanish blackened death metal band and this is their third album.

2017’s Endinghent was a contagious plague of ugly blackened dissonance, and The Approaching Roar provides us with a brand new 43 minutes of dark intensity and malignant hatred. Continue reading “Altarage – The Approaching Roar (Review)”

Blurr Thrower – Les Avatars du Vide (Review)

Blurr Thrower - Les Avatars du VideBlurr Thrower is a one man atmospheric black metal band from France and this is his debut release.

Blurr Thrower’s music is heavily influenced by the Cascadian scene, which is no bad thing when the results are this good. Continue reading “Blurr Thrower – Les Avatars du Vide (Review)”

Barshasketh – Barshasketh (Review)

Barshasketh - BarshaskethBarshasketh are a black metal band from New Zealand/the UK and this is their fourth album.

My past encounters with Barshasketh have always been very positive, (see their split with Void Ritual and split with Outre), but this is my first exposure to a full length from the band.

Well, I enjoyed the band’s previous work that I’ve heard, but this is something else. Continue reading “Barshasketh – Barshasketh (Review)”

Yatra – Death Ritual (Review)

Yatra - Death RitualYatra are a doom band from the US and this is their debut album.

Now here we have an album that’s infused with darkness; it’s almost tangible, but in a warm, smoky way. Mixing ugly doom, riff-hungry stoner, blackened sludge, and harsh drone influences into 45 minutes of material, Death Ritual showcases the dark underbelly of doom metal. Continue reading “Yatra – Death Ritual (Review)”