Serpents Athirst/Genocide Shrines/Trepanation/Heresiarch – Scorn Coalescence – Split (Review)

Serpents Athirst Genocide Shrines Trepanation Heresiarch - Scorn Coalescence - SplitThis four way split is between Serpents Athirst and Genocide Shrines from Sri Lanka, and Trepanation and Heresiarch from New Zealand. Each offer up a single track. Continue reading “Serpents Athirst/Genocide Shrines/Trepanation/Heresiarch – Scorn Coalescence – Split (Review)”

Black Shroud – Death Culture (Review)

Black Shroud - Death CultureThis is the debut album from Black Shroud, a blackened death metal band from the US.

Black Shroud play a black/death metal hybrid that focuses on muscular death metal backed up by blackened aspects that provide an extra layer of grimness and macabre atmosphere. This blurring of the black/death lines in Black Shroud’s capable hands makes for an enjoyable and satisfying listening experience. Continue reading “Black Shroud – Death Culture (Review)”

Itheist – Itheist (Review)

Itheist - ItheistItheist are a UK black/death metal band and this is their debut album.

Previously named Aetherium Mors, this is the band’s first release under its new moniker. This is modern, dissonant black metal that’s been hybridised with death metal and energised with melodic darkness. Continue reading “Itheist – Itheist (Review)”

Hiss from the Moat – The Harrier (Review)

Hiss from the Moat - The HarrierHiss from the Moat are an Italian blackened death metal band and this is their second album.

It’s been quite a while since 2013’s Misanthropy was released, but it made a very good impression on me, so its follow up, The Harrier, is a record I was pleased to see make its way into my hands. Continue reading “Hiss from the Moat – The Harrier (Review)”

Kaleikr – Heart of Lead (Review)

kaleikr - heart of leadKaleikr are an Icelandic black/death metal band and this is their debut album.

This is black metal that’s progressive and emotive. Heart of Lead is an album that you can almost visibly see change as it develops and unfolds. As it runs through its playing time, Kaleikr’s music becomes increasingly darker and more unhinged. Continue reading “Kaleikr – Heart of Lead (Review)”

Mallephyr – Womb of Worms (Review)

mallephyr - womb of wormsMallephyr are from the Czech Republic and play black/death metal. This is their second album.

Womb of Worms contains 38 minutes of occult, misanthropic black metal that’s bolstered in places by the inherent might and muscle of death metal. It also features a member of Panychida. Continue reading “Mallephyr – Womb of Worms (Review)”

Embra – Abjection (Review)

Embra - AbjectionThis is the debut album from Embra, a black/death metal band from the US.

Here we have a very tasty and impressive slice of modern atmospheric black metal, shot through with dark death metal influences for added bite. Continue reading “Embra – Abjection (Review)”

Khanus – Flammarion (Review)

KhanusKhanus are a Finnish blackened death metal band and this is their debut album.

Featuring a member of Code, Khanus play unorthodox black/death metal with a depth of appeal that comes from ritualistic, shamanistic, and occult influences, as well as the aspects of non-death metal styles that the music incorporates into itself. Continue reading “Khanus – Flammarion (Review)”

Gutter Instinct – Heirs of Sisyphus (Review)

Gutter InstinctThis is the second album from Gutter Instinct, a Swedish death metal band.

Ahh, I love the sound of Swedish death metal crushing its enemies in the morning, (what’s left of it at least – see later). This is especially the case when the style has a malignant blackened sheen to it, as it does with Gutter Instinct’s malevolent output. Having said that, with every release Gutter Instinct change and refine their sound, and this is true of this latest release, as we’ll see. Continue reading “Gutter Instinct – Heirs of Sisyphus (Review)”

Carcinoma/Abyssal – Apanthropinization – Split (Review)

Carcinoma AbyssalCarcinoma and Abyssal are both blackened death metal bands from the UK that have teamed up for this split.

Carcinoma open the split, with four tracks lasting 15 minutes in duration. Continue reading “Carcinoma/Abyssal – Apanthropinization – Split (Review)”