Diabolic Oath – Oracular Hexations (Review)

Diabolic Oath - Oracular HexationsThis is the second album from US black/death metal band Diabolic Oath.

After enjoying Diabolic Oath’s Divinations split with Aberration not so long ago, I’m both surprised and pleased that Oracular Hexations has come along so quickly. Clocking in at 36 minutes, it’s a violent, barbaric mix of brutal black metal and hideous death metal. Continue reading “Diabolic Oath – Oracular Hexations (Review)”

Helfró – Tálgröf (Review)

Helfró - TálgröfHelfró are a black/death metal band from Iceland and this is their second album.

Following on from 2020’s enjoyable Helfró comes Tálgröf, which boasts 36 minutes of new material. Marginally shorter than its predecessor, despite having one track more, what does this mean for the Helfró of 2023? Continue reading “Helfró – Tálgröf (Review)”

Amalekim – Avodah Zarah (Review)

Amalekim - Avodah ZarahThis is the second album from international black metal band Amalekim.

Avodah Zarah offers up 46 minutes of melodic black metal for listeners to enjoy, and enjoy we do. Amalekim’s music is gripping stuff. Continue reading “Amalekim – Avodah Zarah (Review)”

Aeternus – Philosopher (Review)

Aeternus - PhilosopherThis is the ninth album from Norwegian black/death metal band Aeternus.

Aeternus, (who contain current and ex-members of bands such as Gorgoroth and Gaahls Wyrd), play an expressive form of dark death metal that gains extra depth and substance from esoteric black metal components. On Philosopher, Across 39 minutes of material, Aeternus showcase their art’s efficacy in no uncertain terms. Continue reading “Aeternus – Philosopher (Review)”

Night Crowned – Tales (Review)

Night Crowned - TalesThis is the third album from Swedish black metal band Night Crowned.

I thoroughly enjoyed 2021’s Hädanfärd, and my appreciation for its dark charms has only increased over time. Tales gives us 43 minutes of new material, and I have been looking forward to hearing what it has to offer. Continue reading “Night Crowned – Tales (Review)”

Impalement – The Dawn of Blackened Death (Review)

Impalement - The Dawn of Blackened DeathThis is the second album from Swiss solo black metal act Impalement.

Blending together black and death metal into 41 minutes of dark malevolence and infernal might, The Dawn of Blackened Death is an album of powerful presence. Continue reading “Impalement – The Dawn of Blackened Death (Review)”

Sulphur Aeon – Seven Crowns and Seven Seals (Review)

Sulphur Aeon - Seven Crowns and Seven SealsSulphur Aeon are a German death metal band and this is their fourth album.

Long after 2015’s Gateway to the Antisphere and 2018’s The Scythe of Cosmic Chaos shook the death metal underworld, Sulphur Aeon returns to sow chaos and discord once again. A great slumbering monster awakens. Continue reading “Sulphur Aeon – Seven Crowns and Seven Seals (Review)”

Trivax – Eloah Burns Out (Review)

Trivax - Eloah Burns OutTrivax are an Iranian/UK black metal band and this is their second album.

Following on from 2016’s SIN, Trivax return with 49 minutes of new material in the dark shape of Eloah Burns Out. This new album offers a more refined, well-developed vision of extreme metal, and is definitely a record you should check out if you’re a fan of black/death metal. Continue reading “Trivax – Eloah Burns Out (Review)”

Invultation – Feral Legion (Review)

Invultation - Feral LegionThis is the third album from Invultation, a solo death metal band from the US.

This is some nasty stuff. Feral Legion is a 37-minute bestial war metal album that assaults the listener with its death metal bite and sharp blackened claws. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill album though, and Invultation might surprise you. Continue reading “Invultation – Feral Legion (Review)”

Serpent of Old – Ensemble Under the Dark Sun (Review)

Serpent of Old - Ensemble Under the Dark SunThis is the debut album from Serpent of Old, a death metal band from Turkey.

Featuring the vocalist of Decimation, (also ex-Abolish), Ensemble Under the Dark Sun is a 42-minute monster of extreme metal. Mixing together black metal and doom, with elements of the progressive, dissonant, and atmospheric strains of death metal, Ensemble Under the Dark Sun is shockingly accomplished. Continue reading “Serpent of Old – Ensemble Under the Dark Sun (Review)”