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)”

Necrophobic – Mark of the Necrogram (Review)

NecrophobicThis is the eighth album from this veteran Swedish black/death metal band.

Mark of the Necrogram features 49 minutes of occult, Satanic might. It’s also a very, very enjoyable listen. Continue reading “Necrophobic – Mark of the Necrogram (Review)”

Living Altar – Scythes Towards Psyche (Review)

Living AltarLiving Altar are a Lithuanian black/death metal band and this is their debut EP, (after a demo and a split).

This is bestial black/death metal that takes no prisoners with its venomous assault and violent tendencies. Continue reading “Living Altar – Scythes Towards Psyche (Review)”

Revenge Prevails – False Hope Cruelty (Review)

Revenge PrevailsThis is the second album from Swedish black/death metal band Revenge Prevails.

This is a band that takes a sturdy, Satyricon-esque second wave foundation and builds on it with some solid death metal bricks. Continue reading “Revenge Prevails – False Hope Cruelty (Review)”