Рожь (Rye) – Знание (Review)

Рожь (Rye) - ЗнаниеThis is the third album from Рожь (otherwise known as Rye), a one-man blackened doom band from Russia.

2023’s В​с​ё was a record that made a strong impression, so it’s good to now have 40 minutes of new material from the artist behind Рожь. Знание contains just three tracks, but each is worth spending time with, as we’ll see. Continue reading “Рожь (Rye) – Знание (Review)”

Lust Hag – Irrevocably Drubbed (Review)

Lust Hag - Irrevocably DrubbedThis is the second album from Lust Hag, a solo black metal act from the US.

I didn’t expect a new Lust Hag album so soon after the artist’s first one from last year, but I shouldn’t have been surprised I suppose. After all, since then, she has also released Prayers Unanswered, (a split with Reaping Fields,), and a split with Genital Shame. As a big fan of Lust Hag, the 44-minute Irrevocably Drubbed is very well-received. Continue reading “Lust Hag – Irrevocably Drubbed (Review)”

Ghost Bath – Rose Thorn Necklace (Review)

Ghost Bath - Rose Thorn NecklaceGhost Bath are a depressive black metal band from the US and this is their fifth album.

I do like a bit of Ghost Bath. Both 2017’s Starmourner and 2021’s Self Loather were very enjoyable, despite actually being quite different. Out if the two, Rose Thorn Necklace is probably closer in style overall to Self Loather, although is by no means a repeat of it. Continue reading “Ghost Bath – Rose Thorn Necklace (Review)”

Behemoth – The Shit ov God (Review)

Behemoth - The Shit ov GodBehemoth are a Polish blackened death metal band and this is their thirteenth album.

I thoroughly enjoyed 2018’s I Loved You at Your Darkest, but somehow missed its follow up. Not so with The Shit ov God, which gives us – dodgy name aside – 39 minutes of new material from Behemoth’s charismatic blend of death and black metal. Continue reading “Behemoth – The Shit ov God (Review)”

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)”