Firtan are a German black metal band and this is their fifth album.
Following on from 2022’s Marter and 2024’s Ethos, Helios brings us 60 minutes of well-crafted atmospheric black metal and post-blackened might. It is a record that reeks of high quality. Firtan have obviously put a lot of energy and care into its creation, and the results pay off. Continue reading “Firtan – Helios (Review)”
Spirit Possession are a black metal band from the US and this is their third album.
Brought to us by a member of Black Curse/Ulthar, Cathedral Speech contains 43 minutes of engaging blackened mayhem. Spirit Possession are not your average black metal band, so get ready to inject something notable into your listening habits. Continue reading “Spirit Possession – Cathedral Speech (Review)”
Death. Void. Terror. are a black/death/doom metal band from Switzerland, and this is their third album.
This new record follows hot on the sulphurous heels of last month’s EP To the Great Monolith 2.5. So, what do these strange, otherworldly travellers have in store for us this time? The answer, is something unexpectedly special. Something, in fact, to shake you out of your complacency and really, truly, feel the music. Continue reading “Death. Void. Terror. – To the Great Monolith III: Rifts (Review)”
Rorcal are a Swiss post-black/doom metal band and this is their seventh album.
Rorcal are a shapeshifting band that are more than worthy of your attention, (here, here, here, here, here). In other words, when they release something, it always rewards investigation. So what grim shape does Mahre take? Continue reading “Rorcal – Mahre (Review)”
This is the second album by UK extreme metal band Burner.
Burner bring us 48 minutes of material to abandon all hope to on No One Is Coming to Save Us. Playing a hybrid style that’s as effective as it is unexpectedly multifaceted, Burner’s new record is a real powerhouse. Continue reading “Burner – No One Is Coming to Save Us (Review)”
This is the second album from UK solo black metal band Noctule.
The artist behind Noctule, (from Svalbard), brings us 39 minutes of melodic black and death metal on Extinguish Thy Flame. The music of Noctule has taken an assured step forward with this new record. Continue reading “Noctule – Extinguish Thy Flame (Review)”
This is the sixth album from black metal band Fluisteraars, who are from the Netherlands.
Jacht der Mysteriën blesses us with three tracks equalling 42 minutes of music. Fluisteraars have a well-developed personality, and Jacht der Mysteriën is surely one of their more idiosyncratic releases. The music may ultimately be atmospheric black metal, but it’s an atypical expression of the style for sure. Continue reading “Fluisteraars – Jacht der Mysteriën (Review)”
It’s the inaugural Tynebound, brought to us by the lovely Reaper Agency. It’s a sister festival of this year’s Reaper Festival, and if it’s even half as good as that was, this weekend will be a smashing success. With a great lineup over both days, it’s time to embrace the northern darkness. Continue reading “Tynebound 2026 – Anarchy Brew Co, Newcastle upon Tyne, 05/09/26-06/09/26 (Live Review)”
Sworn are a Norwegian black metal band and this is their fifth album.
Sworn are one of the best melodic black metal bands active right now. Coming off a genuinely top tier previous album, (2023’s A Journey Told Through Fire), and with a strong back catalogue overall, any new Sworn material is going to be hotly anticipated. Enter the 44-minute Null Crowned the Infinite. Continue reading “Sworn – Null Crowned the Infinite (Review)”
Fen are a UK black metal band and this is their eighth album.
Following on from 2023’s Monuments to Absence, Fen have now returned with 47 minutes of new material in the form of Elemental Part One: Mourning Earth. As the name might suggest, this is the first part of two. Continue reading “Fen – Elemental Part One: Mourning Earth (Review)”
