Civerous – Maze Envy (Review)

Civerous - Maze EnvyThis is the second album from US death metallers Civerous.

We last met Civerous on their 2020 split with Stygian Obsession, so it’s great to be able to hear a full album from them. Brought to us by members of Aylwin and TzompantliMaze Envy contains 42 minutes of cavernous death that’s wrapped around doom and black metal elements. Continue reading “Civerous – Maze Envy (Review)”

Acathexis – Immerse (Review)

Acathexis - ImmerseThis is the second album from Acathexis, an international black metal band.

Acathexis is given dark life by Jacob Buczarski(, the artist behind the amazing Mare Cognitum), the insanely prolific Déhà, (COAGCult of Erinyes, Silver Knife, Slow, We All Die (Laughing), and many others), and a singer from some bands I don’t know, (Dany Tee, from Los Males del Mundo and Seelenmord). Immerse may only have four songs, but with a total duration of 50 minutes, there’s a lot here to delve deeply into. The album is Well-named, and the songs are sprawling and immersive. Continue reading “Acathexis – Immerse (Review)”

Order of Nosferat – The Absence of Grace (Review)

Order of Nosferat - The Absence of GraceThis is the fifth album from international black metal band Order of Nosferat.

I was introduced only last year to Order of Nosferat on their split with Lunar Spells, and I fell for them hard. Given the chance to explore a full album of their vampiric black metal supremacy, how could I resist? Continue reading “Order of Nosferat – The Absence of Grace (Review)”

Khold – Du Dømmes til Død (Review)

Khold - Du Dømmes til DødKhold are a Norwegian black metal band and this is their eighth album.

Du Dømmes til Død contains 33 minutes of black metal that’s primitive and deadly. Khold’s latest release hits the spot nicely. Continue reading “Khold – Du Dømmes til Død (Review)”

Imperatus – At the Mercy of the Wind (Review)

Imperatus - At the Mercy of the WindImperatus are a Vietnamese black metal band and this is their debut album.

Imperatus play second wave black metal that’s spiced up with thrash and death metal flavouring. The promo blurb states that this is for fans of Marduk, Immortal, Nordjevel, and Dark Funeral, which sets the scene nicely for what At the Mercy of the Wind has to offer. Continue reading “Imperatus – At the Mercy of the Wind (Review)”

Enslaved/Svalbard/Wayfarer – Club Academy, Manchester – 08/03/24 (Live Review)

Enslaved Svalbard Wayfarer - Club Academy, Manchester - 08.03.24

Well, what a storming lineup we have here for a chilly Friday night in Manchester. All three of the bands on this bill are worthy of attendance in their own right, so to have them all in one place is a rare treat. Continue reading “Enslaved/Svalbard/Wayfarer – Club Academy, Manchester – 08/03/24 (Live Review)”

Beenkerver – De Rode Weduwe (Review)

Beenkerver - De Rode WeduweThis is the second album from Dutch solo black metal band Beenkerver.

De Rode Weduwe contains 40 minutes of 90s-inspired second wave black metal. Played with fiery passion and cold aggression, the artist behind Beenkerver, (along with a couple of guests), offers an authentic take on the style that’s delivered with contemporary skill. Continue reading “Beenkerver – De Rode Weduwe (Review)”

Midnight – Hellish Expectations (Review)

Midnight - Hellish ExpectationsThis is the sixth album from blackened speed metal solo act Midnight.

Containing 26 minutes of filthy raging mayhem, Hellish Expectations is a furious record of blackened speed/thrash metal that’s hard to dislike. It’s charismatic and nasty, which is a great combination for this sort of thing. Continue reading “Midnight – Hellish Expectations (Review)”

Etoile Filante – Mare Tranquillitatis (Review)

Etoile Filante - Mare TranquillitatisEtoile Filante are a French black metal band and this is their second album.

Mare Tranquillitas has a duration of 40 minutes and showcases Etoile Filante’s brand of ambient/atmospheric black metal. Continue reading “Etoile Filante – Mare Tranquillitatis (Review)”

Lunar Spells – Sacraments of Necromantical Empires (Review)

Lunar Spells - Sacraments of Necromantical EmpiresThis is the third album from Greek black metal band Lunar Spells.

Ever since first encountering Lunar Spells last year on their split with Order of Nosferat I’ve been interested to see what they could do with a full length, and that time has now arrived. With 36 minutes of piercing black metal, Sacraments of Necromantical Empires has not disappointed. Continue reading “Lunar Spells – Sacraments of Necromantical Empires (Review)”