Feral Lord – Purity of Corruption (Review)

Feral Lord - Purity of CorruptionThis is the debut album from US black metal band Feral Lord.

Recommended by the promo blurb for fans of bands such as Oranssi Pazuzu, Odraza, and Deathspell Omega, I couldn’t resist giving this a listen to see if it hooked me. Well it did, as you can probably tell by the fact I’m reviewing it. To the above list I’d also add parts of bands like Suffering Hour and Mourir as reference points for Purity of Corruption too. Continue reading “Feral Lord – Purity of Corruption (Review)”

Headshrinker – Callous Indifference (Review)

Headshrinker - Callous IndifferenceHeadshrinker are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Headshrinker play old-school death metal that incorporates in varying doses, crushing doom, dark black metal, and intricate technicality. Theirs is an atypical approach to death metal, yet one that still benefits from the raw visceral nature of the style. Imagine a cross between Tomb Mold and Ulthar on one hand, and Pyrrhon and Imperial Triumphant on the other, and you’ll be on the right lines for a decent idea of what this album’s 38 minutes hold. Continue reading “Headshrinker – Callous Indifference (Review)”

Windfaerer – Breaths of Elder Dawns (Review)

Windfaerer - Breaths of Elder DawnsWindfaerer are a black metal band from the US. This is their fourth album.

I enjoyed Windfaerer’s second album from 2105 Tenebrosum, but it’s taken me until now to catch up to the band again, so I missed its follow up. I was determined not to miss Breaths of Elder Dawns when I saw it appear though, and I’m very glad that I didn’t. Continue reading “Windfaerer – Breaths of Elder Dawns (Review)”

Wormwitch – Wolf Hex (Review)

Wormwitch - Wolf HexThis is the third album from Canadian black metallers Wormwitch.

Wolf Hex is the 34-minute follow up to 2019’s very well-received Heaven That Dwells Within, but it’s somewhat of a different record to its predecessor. Although obviously the same band, (but with a different lineup), Wolf Hex is rawer and less-polished, and owes more to the underground scenes; it sounds loose, organic, and unforced, and the songs benefit from this approach throughout the album. Continue reading “Wormwitch – Wolf Hex (Review)”

Modern Rites – Monuments (Review)

Modern Rites - MonumentsThis is the debut album from Modern Rites, a Swiss/US black metal band.

Featuring members of Aara and Kuyashii, Monuments contains 37 minutes of modern blackened aggression that mainly exists in the melodic black metal sphere, but not exclusively. The music also borrows from the wellspring of 90s industrial music, (which can be especially felt in some of the melodies, structuring, and atmospheres), as well as some of the more brutal strains of modern black metal. Continue reading “Modern Rites – Monuments (Review)”

Remah – Une Main (Review)

Remah - Une MainRemah are an international black metal band and this is their debut album.

Une Main adopts a modern approach to its black metal, one which adapts elements of the depressive, second wave, and atmospheric styles for its own nefarious use. Alongside this sit darkwave and psychedelic influences, both of which add extra depth to the band’s blackened repertoire. Continue reading “Remah – Une Main (Review)”

Oxygen Destroyer – Sinister Monstrosities Spawned by the Unfathomable Ignorance of Humankind (Review)

Oxygen Destroyer - Sinister Monstrosities Spawned by the Unfathomable Ignorance of HumankindOxygen Destroyer are a blackened death/thrash metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Oxygen Destroyer play combination of death, black, and thrash metal that’s brutal and deadly. Across 29 minutes of material the band ply their monster-themed trade, and do so with breathless enthusiasm. Continue reading “Oxygen Destroyer – Sinister Monstrosities Spawned by the Unfathomable Ignorance of Humankind (Review)”

Fluisteraars – Gegrepen door de Geest der Zielsontluiking (Review)

Fluisteraars - Gegrepen door de Geest der ZielsontluikingThis is the fourth album from black metal band Fluisteraars, who are from the Netherlands.

Hot on the heels of 2020’s Bloem, Fluisteraars have now returned with 36 minutes of new material. On their latest release Fluisteraars once again return to their longer offerings, (there are only three songs here, and the longest lasts 20 minutes), and they do so with skill and potency. Continue reading “Fluisteraars – Gegrepen door de Geest der Zielsontluiking (Review)”

Wolves in the Throne Room – Primordial Arcana (Review)

Wolves in the Throne Room - Primordial ArcanaThis is the seventh album from US black metallers Wolves in the Throne Room.

A new Wolves in the Throne Room album is a huge event, especially for me, as they’re essentially one of my favourite bands.

With a rawer, sharper sound than Continue reading “Wolves in the Throne Room – Primordial Arcana (Review)”

Francis Root/Sconsacrata – Split (Review)

Francis Root Sconsacrata - SplitFrancis Root, (based in Norway), and Sconsacrata, (based in the UK), are both solo black metal acts who have teamed up for this split release, (both artists are also in sludge metal band Beggar).

Francis Root start us off, with 19 minutes of material. The style of the four songs we’re presented with is one that’s modern and progressive, with elements of electronica and industrial sewn into the music. Continue reading “Francis Root/Sconsacrata – Split (Review)”