Being a fan of Carpathian Forest ever since first getting Strange Old Brew way back in 2000, I knew I wanted to see this show. Black Altar were an added bonus on top. Then, recently, when Wolfbastard were added as opener, it simply meant I was looking forward to it even more. Continue reading “Carpathian Forest/Black Altar/Wolfbastard – Rebellion, Manchester – 18/03/25 (Live Review)”
This is the latest EP from UK black metallers Ninkharsag.
This has been a long time coming. In a similar way to the recent Abduction album Existentialismus, I saw Ninkharsag play songs from this release live back in February 2024, but it’s only now seeing the light of day. Has it been worth the wait to hear Ninkharsag’s brand of melodic black metal once more? Continue reading “Ninkharsag – The Black Swords of Winter (Review)”
This is the sixth album from US avant-garde black/death metal band Imperial Triumphant.
Imperial Triumphant always make a fascinating record. Check out any of their albums, (such as 2020’s Alphaville or 2022’s Spirit of Ecstasy and you’ll be in an unfamiliar world of avant-garde experimentation and gilded individuality. Continue reading “Imperial Triumphant – Goldstar (Review)”
Osgraef are a black/death metal band and this is their debut album.
Osgraef mix black, death, doom, and war metal into a 42-minute expression of mysterious brutality. Reveries of the Arcane Eye is a ball of raging potency and deep obscure atmosphere. Continue reading “Osgraef – Reveries of the Arcane Eye (Review)”
Aran Angmar are an international, (Greece/Italy/Netherlands), black metal band and this is their third album.
Featuring the vocalist of the mighty Saille, Ordo Diabolicum contains 43 minutes of second wave black metal, enriched by folk and atmospheric elements. A mix of the Scandinavian and Greek scenes in style, if you’ve encountered Aran Angmar previously, this is a newly evolved and accomplished version of the band. Continue reading “Aran Angmar – Ordo Diabolicum (Review)”
This is the eleventh album from Swiss black metal act Borgne.
I really enjoyed 2021’s Temps Morts, so was eager to check out what Renaître de ses Fanges had to offer. With 65 minutes of music to absorb and digest, Borgne’s latest is a satiating meal of atmospheric industrial-tinged black metal flavour. Convincingly demonstrating that Temps Morts was not a one off, Renaître de ses Fanges has more than met my expectations. Continue reading “Borgne – Renaître de ses Fanges (Review)”
This is the second album from Spanish black metal solo act Délirant.
Thoughteater contains 38 minutes of swirling dissonance, esoteric atmosphere, and dark aggression. With a promo blurb that references bands such as Blut Aus Nord, Akhlys, Deathspell Omega, Abigor, and Misþyrming, are you ready for the nightmare experience that the artist behind Délirant offers up? Continue reading “Délirant – Thoughteater (Review)”
This is a split between two US black metal solo acts.
We start off with Genital Shame; two tracks in eight minutes. This is not a band I know. Lust Hag drew me to this split in the first place, of course, but having now heard these two songs, I am not disappointed in what the artist behind Genital Shame has to offer. Continue reading “Genital Shame/Lust Hag – Split (Review)”
This is the debut album from Turkish blackened death metal band Shrine of Denial.
On I, Moloch Shrine of Denial offer up 31 minutes of blackened death metal that delivers a mix of blunt force and arcane might. It’s a quality album that doesn’t outstay its welcome. Continue reading “Shrine of Denial – I, Moloch (Review)”
This is the third album from Dawn of Ouroboros, a progressive black/death metal band from the US.
Both 2020’s The Art of Morphology and 2023’s Velvet Incandescence were solid albums from Dawn of Ouroboros, so when I heard about Bioluminescence, it became an anticipated album for 2025. Across 43 minutes Dawn of Ouroboros once again deliver an expressive and charismatic album of hybridised metal styles. Continue reading “Dawn of Ouroboros – Bioluminescence (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 