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)”
This is the second album from German post-metallers Druma.
Sores of Our Time contains 36 minutes of music spread out over four songs. Druma’s style is a mix of sludge and post-metal, with dark atmosphere and a rich blackened touch. With a promo blurb that says it should be for fans of bands such as The Ocean, Cult of Luna, Amenra, and Gaerea, Sores of Our Time is an album that demanded I pay attention to it. Continue reading “Druma – Sores of Our Time (Review)”
Cryptosis are a extreme metal band from the Netherlands and this is their second album.
Following on from 2021’s well-received Bionic Swarm, Cryptosis are now back with the 42-minute face ripper Celestial Death. I am of the opinion that a black metal touch makes everything better. Cryptosis seem to agree. Continue reading “Cryptosis – Celestial Death (Review)”
This Gift Is a Curse are a blackened hardcore/sludge band from Sweden and this is their fourth album.
I thoroughly enjoyed 2019’s A Throne of Ash, so the return of This Gift Is a Curse is a welcome one. They’ve not held back either; Heir is a 67-minute monster. Honestly, I was expecting something good from the band, but Heir is just exceptional. Continue reading “This Gift Is a Curse – Heir (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Swedish black metallers Istapp.
Brought to us by current/ex-members of bands such as Entrails, Necrophagous, Soijl, and Visceral Bleeding, Sól Tér Sortna contains 45 minutes of sharp and fast melodic black metal. Continue reading “Istapp – Sól Tér Sortna (Review)”
Cryfemal are a Spanish black metal band and this is their latest release.
Despite it being their ninth album, I only got into Cryfemal last year, on 2023’s La Gran Victoria del Mal, and I’ve still got much catching up to do. Apparently there’s no rest for the wicked though, as the band are already back and raring to go, with their 23-minute new release Puro Carbon. Continue reading “Cryfemal – Puro Carbon (Review)”
This is the sixth album from Russian black metal band Grima.
2022’s Frostbitten was an enjoyable record of atmospheric black metal, so I was looking forward to hearing Nightside. It’s a collection of mood-rich tracks that offers an enthralling journey into the cold blackened night. Continue reading “Grima – Nightside (Review)”
This is the second album from UK black metal band Ofnus.
Ofnus, (who feature an ex-member of Agrona), present us with 58 minutes of atmospheric black metal on Valediction. I’d heard good things about the band’s debut album, (I need to go check that out), but this is my first time hearing Ofnus and they have exceeded expectations. Continue reading “Ofnus – Valediction (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 