This is the debut album from international black metal band Aset.
Featuring members of Seth and Oranssi Pazuzu, Astral Rape is a 43-minute mystical journey that “blends Egyptian occult rites with a modern and aggressive black metal”, according to the promo blurb. Continue reading “Aset – Astral Rape (Review)”
This is a split between two US solo black metal bands, Floodhag and Lust Hag.
Opening the split is Floodhag, offering up three songs, with a total duration of 12 minutes. Continue reading “Floodhag/Lust Hag – Hagridden Black Metal – Split (Review)”
Deadly Carnage are a post-black metal band from Italy and this is their fifth album.
Following on from 2018’s Through the Void, Above the Suns, Deadly Carnage have now returned with 39 minutes of new material, and they have returned on fine form. Continue reading “Deadly Carnage – Endless Blue (Review)”
This is the second album from black metal solo act Blackbraid.
Blackbraid I was a very enjoyable album, which showcased the work of a talented new artist. Now though we have the immense Blackbraid II to absorb ourselves in. With a length of 66 minutes,(which includes a Bathory cover), it’s almost double the duration of its predecessor, and reveals that Blackbraid’s debut was no one-hit wonder. Continue reading “Blackbraid – Blackbraid II (Review)”
Valravn are a Finnish black metal band and this is their second album.
Featuring a current/ex-member of Altar of Betelgeuze/Cardinals Folly, The Awakening contains 44 minutes of expressive black metal. Continue reading “Valravn – The Awakening (Review)”
This is the third album from French black metallers Loth.
Loth play a modern form of atmospheric black metal that nonetheless benefits from history’s tutelage. Across 41 minutes the band capably show what they’re capable of, and 616 is a rewarding album that fans of the style would do very well to spend some time with. Continue reading “Loth – 616 (Review)”
Broken Pillars are an Iranian black metal band, and this is their debut EP.
To start with I’m going to just lazily regurgitate some of the promo blurb for Of Pillars and Primordial Myth, as it sets the scene nicely for this EP – “Broken Pillars’ music can be described as the Persian response to Hellenic black metal. The songs contain slow yet deliberate doomy-sounding guitar riffing accompanied by grandiose symphonic arrangements. The music can be described as chants trying to reawaken an empire lost to the cruelties of time.” Continue reading “Broken Pillars – Of Pillars and Primordial Myth (Review)”
This is the second album from one-man US black metal band Białywilk.
Zmora contains 30 minutes of atmospheric black metal, brought to us by an ex-member of Vukari. On Zmora the artist provides us with a rich expression of atmospheric music. Documenting the struggles of sleep deprivation and insomnia, it’s a journey into Białywilk’s passionate style. Continue reading “Białywilk – Zmora (Review)”
This is the debut album from Irish/international black metallers Belial’s Throne.
Featuring the drummer of Coscradh, Forgotten Land of the Lost Souls contains 36 minutes of good quality second wave black metal. Continue reading “Belial’s Throne – Forgotten Land of the Lost Souls (Review)”
This is the second album from US black metallers Weald and Woe.
Weald and Woe play a medieval folk-influenced brand of melodic black metal. Across 37 minutes they craft an album of ancient atmosphere and blackened hooks. Continue reading “Weald and Woe – For the Good of the Realm (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 