Qwälen – Veri Virtaa Edelleen (Review)

vThis is the third album from Finnish black metallers Qwälen.

Veri Virtaa Edelleen brings us 45 minutes of untamed ferocity. Qwälen channel their inner darkness via eight tracks of uncompromising black metal. It’s harsh and malevolent, fuelled by the burning coals of Continue reading “Qwälen – Veri Virtaa Edelleen (Review)”

Coscradh – Carving the Causeway to the Otherworld (Review)

Coscradh - Carving the Causeway to the OtherworldThis is the second album from Irish black/death metallers Coscradh.

Carving the Causeway to the Otherworld is the 44-minute follow up to 2022’s Nahanagan Stadial, and unleashes a monster of black/death metal horror on the world. Coscradh are fierce purveyors of quality extremity, and their new record is Continue reading “Coscradh – Carving the Causeway to the Otherworld (Review)”

Olhava – Memorial (Review)

Olhava - MemorialOlhava are a Russian atmospheric/post-black metal band and this is their seventh album.

Olhava have built up an eviable body of work, including 2021’s Frozen Bloom, 2022’s Reborn and 2024’s Sacrifice. This brings us nicely to the 78-minute Memorial, a record that takes us on another gargantuan excursion into post-blackened waters. Continue reading “Olhava – Memorial (Review)”

Unmother – State Dependent Memory (Review)

Unmother - State Dependent MemoryThis is the second album from UK post-black metal band Unmother.

State Dependent Memory contains 38 minutes of modern/post-black metal, which includes a cover of a band called ΟΔΟΣ 55, here transmuted into something Continue reading “Unmother – State Dependent Memory (Review)”

Misotheist – De Pinte (Review)

Misotheist - De PinteThis is the fourth album from Norwegian solo black metal act Misotheist.

Brought to us by the artist behind Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne!, Enevelde, and Kråbøl, De Pinte contains 41 minutes of violent otherworldly black metal. Misotheist carve a space into black metal’s crowded landscape that belongs purely to De Pinte. This is an album that Continue reading “Misotheist – De Pinte (Review)”

Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne! – Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne! (Review)

Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne - Diabolus, Mecum SemperterneDiabolus, Mecum Semperterne! are a black metal band from Norway and this is their debut album.

Brought to us be current/ex-members of bands such as Enevelde, Kråbøl, Lethe, Manes, Misotheist, Parfaxitas, Vemod, and Whoredom Rife, there’s a lot of experience that sits behind this project. Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne! is a 44-minute black metal incursion that will Continue reading “Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne! – Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne! (Review)”

Phasma – Purgatory (Review)

vThis is the third album from international, (Greece/US), blackened death metallers Phasma.

Phasma play an interesting and intense mix of black and death metal, cut with elements of doom and deathcore. Purgatory contains 26 minutes of dark violence, and it’s Continue reading “Phasma – Purgatory (Review)”

Dwellnought – Monolith of Ephemerality (Review)

Dwellnought - Monolith of EphemeralityThis is the debut album from Italian blackened doom band Dwellnought.

Dwellnought play hideous, lightless doom that’s soaked in black metal’s corrosive acids. Monolith of Ephemerality is a 47-minute nightmare, one that drowns the listener in Continue reading “Dwellnought – Monolith of Ephemerality (Review)”

Reaper Festival 2026 – Rebellion, Manchester, 14/02/26-15/02/26 (Live Review)

Reaper Festival 2026 - Rebellion, Manchester, 14.02.26-15.02.26

It’s been a few years since the last edition of Reaper Festival, so this show appearing once more was a welcome surprise when it did. The lineup is extremely strong, and it promises to be a great weekend. Kudos to the organisers too, (the always great Reaper Agency), for specifically Continue reading “Reaper Festival 2026 – Rebellion, Manchester, 14/02/26-15/02/26 (Live Review)”