Vermilia – Ruska (Review)

Vermilia - RuskaThis is the second album from Vermilia, a one-woman black metal band from Finland.

Sometimes you happen upon an album that instantly strikes you as something exceptional. Ruska is exactly one such album. It delivers a 37-minute album of pagan and folk black metal; this simple description does not even begin to do justice to Vermilia’s work though. Continue reading “Vermilia – Ruska (Review)”

Gaerea – Mirage (Review)

Gaerea - MirageThis is the third album from Portuguese black metallers Gaerea.

With 2018’s Unsettling Whispers and then 2020’s Limbo, Gaerea have made a formidable name for themselves in the modern black metal killing arenas. Does third album Mirage continue this spree, or find them falling by the wayside? Continue reading “Gaerea – Mirage (Review)”

Venom Inc. – There’s Only Black (Review)

Venom Inc. - There's Only BlackThis is the second album from Venom Inc., a thrash metal band from the UK.

Featuring two members of the legendary Venom, as well as a current and ex-member of bands such as Inhuman Condition, Kill Division, and Wombbath on drums, There’s Only Black contains 54 minutes of raging metallic heaviness that should have any fan of old-school thrash metal salivating. Continue reading “Venom Inc. – There’s Only Black (Review)”

Nordjevel – Gnavhòl (Review)

Nordjevel - GnavhòlNordjevel are a Norwegian black metal band and this is their third album.

Following on from 2021’s fiery Fenrir EP, (of which Gnawing the Bones reappears here), Gnavhòl is a 55-minute expression of black metal darkness. Continue reading “Nordjevel – Gnavhòl (Review)”

Celestial Grave – Vitriolic Atonement (Review)

Celestial Grave - Vitriolic AtonementThis is the second album from Celestial Grave, a black metal band from Finland.

Across 34 minutes Celestial Grave deliver an underground strain of black metal that’s raw and sharp, yet is not lacking an atmospheric and emotive side. Continue reading “Celestial Grave – Vitriolic Atonement (Review)”

Embarla Firgasto – Temporal Capsule (Review)

Embarla Firgasto - Temporal CapsuleThis is the debut album from one-man Polish death metal band Embarla Firgasto.

Temporal Capsule offers up 31 minutes of dissonant blackened death metal. The artist claims influence from acts such as Deathspell Omega, Aosoth, Ulcerate, Gorguts, Leviathan, Convulsing, and VI, and this is a good place to start when approaching this album. Continue reading “Embarla Firgasto – Temporal Capsule (Review)”

Acod – Fourth Reign over Opacities and Beyond (Review)

Acod - Fourth Reign over Opacities and BeyondThis is the fifth album from French black metal band Acod.

Fourth Reign over Opacities and Beyond is a 52-minute journey into Acod’s lovingly-crafted world. Continue reading “Acod – Fourth Reign over Opacities and Beyond (Review)”

Omophagia – Rebirth in Black (Review)

Omophagia - Rebirth in BlackOmophagia are a Swiss death metal band and this is their fourth album.

2016’s In the Name of Chaos was very enjoyable, but it was with 2019’s 646965 that Omophagia really made their mark. As such, Rebirth in Black is one I’ve been waiting for, so let’s get to it. Continue reading “Omophagia – Rebirth in Black (Review)”

Sublation – The Path to Bedlam (Review)

Sublation - The Path to BedlamThis is the debut album from US death metallers Sublation.

I loved Fisthammer’s 2014 album Infallible. An incredible blend of blackened and technical death metal, it’s an album I still visit surprisingly often. Why do I bring this up here? Because Sublation are the reincarnation of Fisthammer, who have returned with a new name, a stripped back lineup, and a refreshed vision for extreme metal. As such, I simply had to give The Path to Bedlam a decent airing. Continue reading “Sublation – The Path to Bedlam (Review)”

Mo’ynoq – A Place for Ash (Review)

Moynoq - A Place for AshMoynoq are a black metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Filled with pain and anguish, A Place for Ash spends 40 minutes subjecting the listener to a withering barrage of dark, passionate black metal. Continue reading “Mo’ynoq – A Place for Ash (Review)”