Devourer – The Wicked Ones (Review)

Devourer - The Wicked OnesDevourer are a black/death metal band from Sweden and this is their fifth album.

Devourer immediately struck a chord with me on their 2017 album Across the Empty Plains. Since then, they have also produced 2019’s Dawn of Extinction and 2022’s Raptus, both quality records that continued to showcase Devourer as a force to be reckoned with. The band are now back with The Wicked Ones, and sound more focused than ever. Continue reading “Devourer – The Wicked Ones (Review)”

Heresiarch – Edifice (Review)

Heresiarch - EdificeThis is the second album from New Zealand black/death metallers Heresiarch.

Prior to Edifice my first and only encounter with Heresiarch was on their 2019 split release – Scorn Coalescence – with Serpents Athirst, Genocide Shrines, and Trepanation, so this new album seemed like a good opportunity to find out what Heresiarch are capable of with a full album. Continue reading “Heresiarch – Edifice (Review)”

Pyra – Those Who Dwell in the Fire (Review)

Pyra - Those Who Dwell in the FirePyra are a black/death metal band from Italy and this is their debut album.

Featuring the formidable vocals of the singer/guitarist of Dead Chasm, (who here also handles bass), Those Who Dwell in the Fire contains 44 minutes of blackened death metal that’s menacing and dark. I’m a bit late to the Pyra party, but a record as good as this demands coverage. Continue reading “Pyra – Those Who Dwell in the Fire (Review)”

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)”