Acceptance – Crucifixion of Orchids (Review)

Acceptance - Crucifixion of OrchidsAcceptance are a post-black metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Previously known as Fatalist, (with an album under that name, so whether this is their first or second I suppose is up for debate), Acceptance exist at an interesting intersection between atmospheric black metal, sludge, blackgaze, and post-rock. Continue reading “Acceptance – Crucifixion of Orchids (Review)”

Ahamkara – The Harrow of the Lost (Review)

Ahamkara - The Harrow of the LostThis is the second album by UK black metal band Ahamkara.

I’ve been waiting for a new Ahamkara album since 2014, which is a shockingly long time to wait for anything. The Embers of the Stars was a damn good album though, so now that a new record is here, it was not one I wanted to overlook. Unfortunately, it seems there was a good reason for this delay, as the promo blurb tells us – “Following ten years of silence after the release of their debut album “The Embers of the Stars” and the untimely death of vocalist Steven, Ahamkara return with a new lineup and new album “The Harrow of the Lost”, an unflinching exploration of the transformative nature of grief.” Continue reading “Ahamkara – The Harrow of the Lost (Review)”

Diabolizer – Murderous Revelations (Review)

Diabolizer - Murderous RevelationsThis is the second album from Turkish death metallers Diabolizer.

2021’s Khalkedonian Death was a very enjoyable slab of devastatingly effective death metal. Murderous Revelations continues Diabolizer’s ascent, delivering a crushing 39-minute feast of classic death metal butchery. Continue reading “Diabolizer – Murderous Revelations (Review)”

Silver Knife – Silver Knife (Review)

Silver Knife - Silver KnifeSilver Knife are an international post-black metal band and this is their second album.

Silver Knife is the 47-minute successor to 2020’s well-received Unyielding/Unseeing. Containing the extremely busy and talented Déhà, as well as current/ex-members of Burial Remains, Laster, Monads, Paramnesia, and Vuur & Zijde, Silver Knife is an album with a lot of experience poured into it, and it shows. Continue reading “Silver Knife – Silver Knife (Review)”

Ultha/Ante-Inferno/Andracca – Rebellion, Manchester – 15/03/25 (Live Review)

Ultha Ante-Inferno Andracca - Rebellion, Manchester - 15.03.25

Featuring Andracca and Ante-Inferno, two of the leading lights of the UK black metal underground, as well as the mighty Ultha, this was a show I could not afford to miss. Especially as, in my humble opinion, Ultha are probably the best modern black metal band in the world. It promises to be a great show. Continue reading “Ultha/Ante-Inferno/Andracca – Rebellion, Manchester – 15/03/25 (Live Review)”

Svnth – Pink Noise Youth (Review)

Svnth - Pink Noise YouthSvnth are an Italian blackgaze band and this is their fourth album.

I’ve enjoyed watching Svnth develop over the years, back when they were called Seventh Genocide on 2017’s Toward Akina and 2018’s Svnth, and then when they changed their name for 2020’s Spring in Blue, which was their strongest outing yet, even making it onto my year end list. Which brings us, five years and a lineup change later, to the 37-minute Pink Noise Youth. Continue reading “Svnth – Pink Noise Youth (Review)”