Spectral Lore – Ετερόφωτος (Review)

Spectral Lore - ΕτερόφωτοςSpectral Lore is a one-man Greek atmospheric black metal band, and this is his fifth album.

I was quite excited to see a new Spectral Lore release so soon after the masterful Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine – a colossal split with Mare Cognitum. This new album is pretty colossal too, containing a whopping 79 minutes of music, and it’s every bit as good as you think it is for the most part. Continue reading “Spectral Lore – Ετερόφωτος (Review)”

Altarage – Succumb (Review)

Altarage - SuccumbAltarage are a Spanish blackened death metal band and this is their fourth album.

I’ve been enjoying Altarage’s output over the years – 2017’s Endinghent and 2019’s The Approaching Roar are both really solid albums – and Succumb continues the upward trend that the band are clearly on. Succumb contains 63 minutes of foul blackened death metal, and it’s their Continue reading “Altarage – Succumb (Review)”

Body Void – Bury Me Beneath This Rotting Earth (Review)

Body Void - Bury Me Beneath This Rotting EarthThis is the third album from Body Void, a doom band from the US.

If you haven’t heard Body Void before, then you absolutely need to check out 2018’s I Live Inside a Burning House, 2019’s You Will Know the Fear You Forced upon Us, and their 2020 split with Keeper. It’s now 2021, and time for the colossal Bury Me Beneath This Rotting Earth to be unleashed. Continue reading “Body Void – Bury Me Beneath This Rotting Earth (Review)”

Mānbryne – Heilsweg: O Udręce Ciała I Tułaczce Duszy (Review)

Mānbryne - O Udręce Ciała I Tułaczce DuszyThis is the debut album from Polish black metallers Mānbryne.

Featuring members of Blaze of Perdition, Odraza, and Voidhanger, Mānbryne grabbed my attention right out of the gate. On Heilsweg: O Udręce Ciała I Tułaczce Duszy the band offer up 41-minutes of malevolent black metal, and it is very gratefully received. Continue reading “Mānbryne – Heilsweg: O Udręce Ciała I Tułaczce Duszy (Review)”

Corr Mhóna – Abhainn (Review)

Corr Mhóna - AbhainnThis is the second album from Irish black metal band Corr Mhóna.

Abhainn is a 56-minute progressive black metal album that also contains a healthy amount of doom and folk influences. It’s ambitious and bold, but also very striking and well-realised. The band have clearly put a lot into this work, and it shows; Abhainn is Continue reading “Corr Mhóna – Abhainn (Review)”

Saille – V (Review)

Saille - VThis is the fifth album from Belgian black metallers Saille.

Following on from 2014’s Eldritch and 2017’s Gnosis, Saille now return with V, which contains 46 minutes of new material. Saille are not the same band we have met in the past, however. The 2021 incarnation of Saille is Continue reading “Saille – V (Review)”

Forsmán – Dönsum i Logans Ljóma (Review)

Forsman - Dönsum i Logans LjómaThis is the debut EP from Icelandic black metallers Forsmán.

Forsmán play melodic black metal that’s potent and cold. There are four tracks here with a total duration of 25 minutes, and it makes for a quality first foray into the world. Continue reading “Forsmán – Dönsum i Logans Ljóma (Review)”

Scitalis – Awakening (Review)

Scitalis - AwakeningThis is the debut EP from Swedish black metallers Scitalis.

Scitalis display a controlled aggression and boast a potent melodic streak. This EP is 29 minutes long and is a great opportunity to experience the spirit and talent of a promising new band’s first creation. Continue reading “Scitalis – Awakening (Review)”

Cryptosis – Bionic Swarm (Review)

Cryptosis - Bionic SwarmCryptosis are a thrash metal band from the Netherlands and this is their debut album.

Cryptosis play an aggressive form of thrash that combines raw fiery hostility with progressive depth. Thrown into this mix are minor elements of symphonic, technical, black, and death metal, all of which merely add flavour to an already tasty thrash-tastic recipe. Think Continue reading “Cryptosis – Bionic Swarm (Review)”

Rorcal & Earthflesh – Witch Coven (Review)

Rorcal & Earthflesh - Witch CovenWitch Coven is a collaboration between Swiss post-black/doom metallers Rorcal, and Earthflesh, a noise incarnation of Rorcal’s ex-bassist.

This collaboration has birthed two immense tracks with a duration of 30 minutes in total. Combining Continue reading “Rorcal & Earthflesh – Witch Coven (Review)”