Conifère – L’Imp​ô​t du Sang (Review)

Conifère - L'Imp​ô​t du SangThis is the debut album from Canadian black metallers Conifère.

L’Imp​ô​t du Sang offers up 31 minutes of old-school black metal. Conifère’s music takes the tried-and-tested classic formula and runs with it, producing a corker of an album that sounds far more vibrant and engaging than many that play the style. Continue reading “Conifère – L’Imp​ô​t du Sang (Review)”

Alburnum – The Withered Roots of Reality (Review)

Alburnum - The Withered Roots of RealityAlburnum are a black metal band from the Netherlands and this is their second album.

The Withered Roots of Reality is a 35-minute black metal album that combines elements of the atmospheric, folk, pagan, and melodic styles. Alburnum tie their influences together well, making for an easily enjoyable album with much to recommend it. Continue reading “Alburnum – The Withered Roots of Reality (Review)”

Ceremony of Silence – Hálios (Review)

Ceremony of Silence - HáliosThis is the second album from Slovakian black/death metal band Ceremony of Silence.

Five years after 2019’s malignant Oútis, Ceremony of Silence have returned with the 36-minute Hálios. An album of atmospheric brutality, Hálios expands on and further develops the strengths of Ceremony of Silence’s debut album. Continue reading “Ceremony of Silence – Hálios (Review)”

Uprising – III (Review)

Uprising - IIIThis is the third album from German solo black metal band Uprising.

III is brought to us by a founder of Waldgeflüster, with drums provided by the artist behind Panopticon. Uprising’s music is rooted in the classic black metal style, but not limited to it, and carries with it a contemporary message. Continue reading “Uprising – III (Review)”

Seth – La France des Maudits (Review)

Seth - La France des MauditsThis is the seventh album from French black metallers Seth.

La France des Maudits offers up 46 minutes of expressive black metal. Seth are one of those bands that have been around for some time now and despite being aware of them since their very early days I’ve never actually heard them before. This new album seemed like the perfect time to rectify this. Continue reading “Seth – La France des Maudits (Review)”

Perchta – D​’​Muata (Review)

Perchta - D​’​MuataThis is the second album from Perchta, a black metal band from Austria.

D​’​Muata offers a 48-minute atmospheric blackened folk experience that’s compelling and immersive. Perchta have crafted a strong personality of their own on this record, and it’s one that serves them well for almost all of the album. Continue reading “Perchta – D​’​Muata (Review)”

Scarcity – The Promise of Rain (Review)

Scarcity - The Promise of RainScarcity are a black metal band from the US and this is their second album.

The successor of 2022’s well-received Aveilut, The Promise of Rain contains 40 minutes of new material from Scarcity. Brought to us from a band that features members of Anicon, Glorious Depravity, Krallice, Pyrrhon, Seputus, Weeping Sores, and Woe, Scarcity have a wealth of experience in the realms of extreme metal that they bring to bear here to good effect. Continue reading “Scarcity – The Promise of Rain (Review)”

Vanhelgd – Atropos Doctrina (Review)

Vanhelgd - Atropos DoctrinaThis is the sixth album from Vanhelgd, a death metal band from Sweden.

I got quite excited when I saw Vanhelgd’s newest appear; it’s been a long six years since 2018’s Deimos Sanktuarium after all. That record even made it onto that year’s year end list, as did its predecessor Temple of Phobos in 2016. 2014’s Relics of Sulphur Salvation didn’t, but probably should have somewhere. Continue reading “Vanhelgd – Atropos Doctrina (Review)”

Forgotten Tomb – Nightfloating (Review)

Forgotten Tomb - NightfloatingThis is the eleventh album from Forgotten Tomb, an Italian black/doom metal band.

A new Forgotten Tomb album is a notable event around these parts. 2015’s Hurt Yourself and the Ones You Love, 2017’s We Owe You Nothing, and 2020’s Nihilistic Estrangement, were all top drawer records, so it’s with expectation that Nightfloating‘s 41 minutes of new material is greeted. Continue reading “Forgotten Tomb – Nightfloating (Review)”