Affliktor – Affliktor (Review)

AffliktorAffliktor is a one-man black/thrash band from the US and this is his debut album.

This is blackened thrash with plenty of sharpness and bite. Think old-school black metal if it was mixed together with equally old-school Kreator. Continue reading “Affliktor – Affliktor (Review)”

Antiversum – Cosmos Comedenti (Review)

AntiversumThis is the debut album from Antiversum, a blackened death metal band from Switzerland.

Okay, so I’ve tentatively labelled this as blackened death metal simply for ease of description in the introduction, but the reality is that this is more of a black/death/doom hybrid. It all sits under a suitably blackened and grim aegis though, powered by a vicious death metal intensity. Continue reading “Antiversum – Cosmos Comedenti (Review)”

Asagraum – Potestas Magicum Diaboli (Review)

AsagraumAsagraum are a black metal band from the Netherlands/Norway and this is their debut album.

This is largely old-school Satanic black metal, firmly influenced by the 90s Scandinavian second wave style, but not without its own merits or character. Continue reading “Asagraum – Potestas Magicum Diaboli (Review)”

Black March – Praeludium Exterminii (Review)

Black MarchThis is the debut album from French black metallers Black March.

Here we have a little over 40 minutes of second wave black metal mixed with both a melodic and a thrash influence. It’s fast, sharp, and full of feral attitude. Continue reading “Black March – Praeludium Exterminii (Review)”

At Dusk/Sacerdos – Split (Review)

At Dusk SacerdosAt Dusk and Sacerdos are both black metal bands from the US, with At Dusk being a one-man entity and Sacerdos being a duo.

At Dusk’s contribution to this release is one 15 minute song named Condemned. Continue reading “At Dusk/Sacerdos – Split (Review)”

Karne – Symposium of Torments (Review)

KarneThis is the second album from French black metallers Karne.

2014’s Faith in Flesh saw Karne nail their colours to the mast with their brand of high-speed black metal that had melodic bite and grim determination. Continue reading “Karne – Symposium of Torments (Review)”

Chaosbaphomet – Promethean Black Flame (Review)

ChaosbaphometThis is the debut album from Greek black metal band Chaosbaphomet.

This album is bookended by a long, ritualistic, avant-garde track that serves as an introduction, and by a Necromantia cover at the other end of the album. In the middle, however, we get 24 minutes of Chaosbaphomet’s furious own-brand black metal. Continue reading “Chaosbaphomet – Promethean Black Flame (Review)”

Atriarch – Dead as Truth (Review)

AtriarchThis is US blackened doom band Atriarch’s fourth album.

The band’s last album An Unending Pathway was a notable, individual, and very engaging release from 2014, managing to combine elements of doom, black metal, and deathrock effectively and enjoyably. Continue reading “Atriarch – Dead as Truth (Review)”