Morgul Blade – Heavy Metal Wraiths (Review)

Morgul Blade - Heavy Metal WraithsThis is the second album from US blackened heavy metal band Morgul Blade.

Now there’s an album cover for you. When combined with the title, it that speaks loudly of what you’ll encounter on Heavy Metal Wraiths. Across 36 minutes Morgul Blade deliver a rip-roaring trip through ten boisterous tracks that are designed to get those heads banging and fists pumping. Continue reading “Morgul Blade – Heavy Metal Wraiths (Review)”

Amiensus – Reclamation: Part 1 (Review)

Amiensus - Reclamation Part 1This is the fourth album from US black metallers Amiensus.

Amiensus are a band I’ve really enjoyed watching the development of over the years. 2012’s Restoration was an early highlight, but every release has offered something tasty from the band. Whether this is the stripped back classic approach of 2017’s All Paths Lead to Death, or the standout Abreaction, which rightfully made it onto my 2020 year end list, Amiensus always seem to have something meaningful to say. Continue reading “Amiensus – Reclamation: Part 1 (Review)”

Marduk/Origin/Doodswens – Club Academy, Manchester – 16/04/24 (Live Review)

Marduk Origin Doodswens - Club Academy, Manchester - 16 04 24 (Live Review)

I’ve been listening to both Marduk and Origin for a long, long, long time, but have never seen either of them. Imagine my surprise and excitement then when I saw this show appear on my radar. Scrumptious stuff indeed. Continue reading “Marduk/Origin/Doodswens – Club Academy, Manchester – 16/04/24 (Live Review)”

Selbst – Despondency Chord Progressions (Review)

Selbst - Despondency Chord ProgressionsThis is the third album from solo black metal act Selbst, originally from Venezuela, and now Chile.

Following on from 2020’s Relatos de Angustia, Despondency Chord Progressions contains 44 minutes of new material. The artist behind Selbst, (also in Animus Mortis), is aided on this release by the drummer of Aversio Humanitatis/Eternal Storm, and has created something quite special. Continue reading “Selbst – Despondency Chord Progressions (Review)”

Blaze of Perdition – Upharsin (Review)

Blaze of Perdition - UpharsinThis is the sixth album from Polish black metallers Blaze of Perdition.

I enjoyed 2015’s Near Death Revelations, 2017’s Conscious Darkness, and 2020’s The Harrowing of Hearts, so was pleased when Upharsin appeared. Across its 41-minute duration Blaze of Perdition create a withering storm of hostile black metal and ceremonial atmosphere. Continue reading “Blaze of Perdition – Upharsin (Review)”

Veriteras – The Dark Horizon (Review)

Veriteras - The Dark HorizonThis is the second album from US death metal band Veriteras.

Veriteras play melodic black/death metal inspired by the old-school Scandinavian scene of the 90s. The Dark Horizon is a 31-minute homage to this era, and boy does it get a lot right. Continue reading “Veriteras – The Dark Horizon (Review)”

Heresiarch – Edifice (Review)

Heresiarch - EdificeThis is the second album from New Zealand black/death metallers Heresiarch.

Prior to Edifice my first and only encounter with Heresiarch was on their 2019 split release – Scorn Coalescence – with Serpents Athirst, Genocide Shrines, and Trepanation, so this new album seemed like a good opportunity to find out what Heresiarch are capable of with a full album. Continue reading “Heresiarch – Edifice (Review)”

The Vision Bleak – Weird Tales (Review)

The Vision Bleak - Weird TalesThis is the seventh album from German Gothic metal band The Vision Bleak.

Weird Tales consists of a single 41-minute song, which is made up of twelve separate movements. It looks like on Bandcamp this will be divided into actual tracks, but thankfully the review version consists of just one track, as this is definitely a release to experience in its entirety, without interruption. Continue reading “The Vision Bleak – Weird Tales (Review)”