Black metal – Page 83 – Wonderbox Metal

Label Roundup: Satanath Records and Grimm Distribution – Atra Haeresis, Ukronakh, Veldraveth, and Wintaar (Reviews)

Wonderbox Metal gets sent a lot of new music, (which is great), but there’s no way that everything can get covered unfortunately, (which is not so great). This new column hopes to redress this balance, if only slightly, by taking a look at a handful of releases that a record label has recently sent out that might have otherwise slipped through the cracks.

This edition of this column is split between label Satanath Records and partner label Grimm Distribution. Both have released some fine records over the years, so I thought it as good a time as any to shed some light in their particular corner of the underground. Continue reading “Label Roundup: Satanath Records and Grimm Distribution – Atra Haeresis, Ukronakh, Veldraveth, and Wintaar (Reviews)”

Haunter – Discarnate Ails (Review)

This is the third album from US black/death metallers Haunter.

Following on from 2019’s very well-received Sacramental Death Qualia, Haunter have now returned with 32 minutes of new material. The band’s style can be termed progressive black/death metal, and Continue reading “Haunter – Discarnate Ails (Review)”

Icare – Charogne (Review)

Icare are a post-black metal band from Switzerland and this is their second album.

So, here’s one that intrigued me form the start with its unusual album artwork. But wait, there’s more to why this grabbed my attention; this is an album that the promo blurb describes as a mix of black-metal, post-metal, and grindcore. It also recommends Charogne for fans of Wake, Calligram, Cult of Luna, and Ulcerate. More and more intriguing, thought I. And then, upon discovery that the album consists of one single 43-minute track, I was sold, and knew I had to check out what Icare have to offer. Continue reading “Icare – Charogne (Review)”

Tómarúm – Ash in Realms of Stone Icons (Review)

This is the debut album from US black metal band Tómarúm.

Featuring a member of The Ritual Aura, and session members from Inferi and Virvum, Ash in Realms of Stone Icons contains 60 minutes of progressive black/death metal. Continue reading “Tómarúm – Ash in Realms of Stone Icons (Review)”

Cosmic Putrefaction – Crepuscular Dirge for the Blessed Ones (Review)

This is the third album from, Cosmic Putrefaction, a one-man death metal band from Italy.

Following on from 2020’s The Horizons Towards Which Splendour Withers, Crepuscular Dirge for the Blessed Ones contains 42 minutes of new material. Brought to us by the artist behind Summit and Vertebra Atlantis, Cosmic Putrefaction’s music consists of progressive death metal augmented with doom and black metal highlights. Continue reading “Cosmic Putrefaction – Crepuscular Dirge for the Blessed Ones (Review)”

Vital Spirit – Still as the Night, Cold as the Wind (Review)

This is the debut album from Canadian black metallers Vital Spirit.

Featuring members of Seer and Wormwitch, Still as the Night, Cold as the Wind contains 36 minutes of folk-enhanced black metal. Continue reading “Vital Spirit – Still as the Night, Cold as the Wind (Review)”

I Am the Night – While the Gods Are Sleeping (Review)

This is the debut album from I Am the Night, a black metal band from Finland.

Brought to us by current and ex-members of bands such as Insomnium, Malpractice, Omnium Gatherum, Paradise Lost, and Vallenfyre, While the Gods Are Sleeping is a 38-minute record influenced by the 90s second wave of black metal. Continue reading “I Am the Night – While the Gods Are Sleeping (Review)”

Malthusian/Suffering Hour – Time’s Withering Shadow – Split (Review)

Malthusian are from Ireland and Suffering Hour are from the US. Both play blackened death metal, and they have teamed up for this split release.

Malthusian start us off and offer up two tracks, with a total duration of 20 minutes. Continue reading “Malthusian/Suffering Hour – Time’s Withering Shadow – Split (Review)”

Watain – The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain (Review)

This is the seventh album from Swedish black metallers Watain.

This is the follow up to 2018’s Trident Wolf Abyss and contains 50 minutes of new material. The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain is raw and unforgiving, but not without character or atmosphere. The songs have the feel of those on classic second Continue reading “Watain – The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain (Review)”

Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Dreariness (Interview)

Although I’d ideally love to be able to conduct hard-hitting, in-depth interviews, who has the time these days? In lieu of this, I’ve thrown together the below question template, hopefully to gather some interesting and informative results, without taking up too much of anyone’s time.

Introduce yourself – who are you and what do you do?

Dreariness is a project born in 2012 for the need to untie the deepest knots of our soul with our music. In these ten years our music has changed due to our individual paths, we have grown musically and personally. We simply want to convey, through our music, what lies within Continue reading “Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Dreariness (Interview)”