This is the debut album from Polish black metal band Death Like Mass.
Featuring current and ex-members of Enthroned, Lvcifyre, and Nightbringer, Death Like Mass play old-school black metal that boasts a keen edge of individuality that’s unusual in the style. Across 44 minutes of material The Lord of Flies impresses. Continue reading “Death Like Mass – The Lord of Flies (Review)”
Wolves’ Winter are an Argentinian black metal band and this is their second album.
The Medivm contains 40 minutes of occult black metal. Wolves’ Winter’s music is melodic black metal that’s swathed in occult mists and arcane auras. The Medivm is an album that’s easy to enjoy if you’re a fan of the style, as Wolves’ Winter know what they’re doing. Continue reading “Wolves’ Winter – The Medivm (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Swiss black metal solo act Ashtar.
I enjoyed both 2015’s Ilmasaari and 2020’s Kaikuja, so wanted to check out Ashtar’s latest. Since those albums the band have become a solo endeavour, and I missed the artist’s 2023 album Wandering Through Time somehow. A little over a year since that record though and we have The Return of the Frozen Souls, which features 45 minutes of black/doom metal, (including a Samhain cover). Continue reading “Ashtar – The Return of the Frozen Souls (Review)”
Sørgelig are a Greek black metal band and this is their third album.
I love Isolert, and also really like Insanity Cult. Why do I mention that here? Simply because Sørgelig is made up of members of these two bands, (plus a guitarist who is in neither). I haven’t caught up with Sørgelig since 2018’s Apostate, but the band have been busy since then with EPs, a split, and second album. Φθορά is their third, and a great opportunity to become reacquainted with their brand of hostile malice. Continue reading “Sørgelig – Φθορά (Review)”
This is the eighth album from Norwegian black metallers 1349.
1349 boast current/ex-members of Gorgoroth, Keep of Kalessin, Mortem, and Satyricon in their ranks, and they provide us with 39 minutes of Norwegian black metal in the form of The Wolf and the King. Continue reading “1349 – The Wolf and the King (Review)”
Keitzer are a German death metal/grindcore band and this is their eighth album.
Keitzer are always reliable at what they do. 2014’s The Last Defence, 2016’s Ascension, and 2019’s Where the Light Ends were all solidly enjoyable records, so it’s great to have the 41 minutes of Pandemonium Humanitas now with us. Continue reading “Keitzer – Pandemonium Humanitas (Review)”
Invocation are a black/death metal band from Chile and this is their debut album.
Invocation impressed me with their 2016 demo release Seance – Part: 1, so it’s great to finally have a full album off them, a mere eight years later, (the band haven’t been idle though, as they’ve released two EPs during that time). Continue reading “Invocation – The Archaic Sanctuary (Ritual Body Postures) (Review)”
This is the third album from Ars Veneficium, a black metal band from Belgium.
Following on from 2016’s enjoyable The Reign of the Infernal King and 2020’s Usurpation of the Seven comes The Lurking Shadow of Death; 40 minutes of new material from the mighty Ars Veneficium. Continue reading “Ars Veneficium – The Lurking Shadow of Death (Review)”
This is the fifth album from US black metallers Amiensus.
We’re being treated. This is the second Amiensus album of the year; the second part of Reclamation: Part 1 that we saw back in April. The first instalment was a progressive black metal feast that focused on atmospheric depth. What do the 38 minutes of Reclamation Pt. II have to offer us then? Continue reading “Amiensus – Reclamation Pt. II (Review)”
This is the fourth album from US black/speed metal band Bewitcher.
I was taken with Bewitcher’s style of black/speed/thrash metal ever since I first heard 2016’s Bewitcher. After this, the band unleashed a worthy follow up in 2019’s Under the Witching Cross, as well as 2021’s Cursed Be Thy Kingdom, which I missed out on. All of which brings us to Spell Shock, the band’s longest album yet at 40 minutes, (44 if you include the bonus track). Continue reading “Bewitcher – Spell Shock (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 