Acceptance – Crucifixion of Orchids (Review)

Acceptance - Crucifixion of OrchidsAcceptance are a post-black metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Previously known as Fatalist, (with an album under that name, so whether this is their first or second I suppose is up for debate), Acceptance exist at an interesting intersection between atmospheric black metal, sludge, blackgaze, and post-rock. Continue reading “Acceptance – Crucifixion of Orchids (Review)”

Silver Knife – Silver Knife (Review)

Silver Knife - Silver KnifeSilver Knife are an international post-black metal band and this is their second album.

Silver Knife is the 47-minute successor to 2020’s well-received Unyielding/Unseeing. Containing the extremely busy and talented Déhà, as well as current/ex-members of Burial Remains, Laster, Monads, Paramnesia, and Vuur & Zijde, Silver Knife is an album with a lot of experience poured into it, and it shows. Continue reading “Silver Knife – Silver Knife (Review)”

Svnth – Pink Noise Youth (Review)

Svnth - Pink Noise YouthSvnth are an Italian blackgaze band and this is their fourth album.

I’ve enjoyed watching Svnth develop over the years, back when they were called Seventh Genocide on 2017’s Toward Akina and 2018’s Svnth, and then when they changed their name for 2020’s Spring in Blue, which was their strongest outing yet, even making it onto my year end list. Which brings us, five years and a lineup change later, to the 37-minute Pink Noise Youth. Continue reading “Svnth – Pink Noise Youth (Review)”

Deafheaven – Lonely People with Power (Review)

Deafheaven - Lonely People with PowerThis is the sixth album from US post-black metal/blackgaze band Deafheaven.

Lonely People with Power contains 62 minutes of music, and finds Deafhaven in masterful form. If you’re familiar with Deafheaven at all, as you hopefully are, this new record is essentially a culmination of everything they have done so far, resulting in an album that’s well-rounded, affecting, and quite brilliant. Continue reading “Deafheaven – Lonely People with Power (Review)”

Genital Shame/Lust Hag – Split (Review)

Genital Shame Lust Hag - SplitThis is a split between two US black metal solo acts.

We start off with Genital Shame; two tracks in eight minutes. This is not a band I know. Lust Hag drew me to this split in the first place, of course, but having now heard these two songs, I am not disappointed in what the artist behind Genital Shame has to offer. Continue reading “Genital Shame/Lust Hag – Split (Review)”

Unreqvited – Pathway to the Moon (Review)

Unreqvited - Pathway to the MoonThis is the seventh album from Canadian solo post-black metal band Unreqvited.

Pathway to the Moon contains 43 minutes of post-black metal, taking in elements of blackgaze, symphonic black metal, progressive metal, and post-rock along the way. If you are familiar with Unreqvited’s past work, Pathway to the Moon finds the artist taking their art to the next level. Everything here is an evolutionary step up, delivering music that is extremely well-rendered into its final form. Continue reading “Unreqvited – Pathway to the Moon (Review)”

Bloodbark – Sacred Sound of Solitude (Review)

Bloodbark - Sacred Sound of SolitudeBloodbark are a black metal band and this is their second album. The country of origin and number of members is apparently unknown.

Sacred Sound of Solitude provides us with 41 minutes of atmospheric black metal. The atmospheric core is augmented by elements of post-black metal, blackgaze, and post-rock, contributing to the richness of the album’s blackened heart. This approach allows Bloodbark to produce music that’s immersive and textured. Continue reading “Bloodbark – Sacred Sound of Solitude (Review)”

Alcest/Svalbard/Doodseskader – Academy 2, Manchester – 12/12/24 (Live Review)

Alcest Svalbard Doodseskader - Academy 2, Manchester - 12.12.24 (Live Review)

I’ve never seen Alcest before, so this was a great opportunity to remedy that, especially as the wonderful Svalbard were also playing. Doodseskader too, but I don’t really know them. Continue reading “Alcest/Svalbard/Doodseskader – Academy 2, Manchester – 12/12/24 (Live Review)”

Hidden Mothers – Erosion / Avulsion (Review)

Hidden Mothers - Erosion AvulsionThis is the debut album from UK post-hardcore band Hidden Mothers.

Genre is a funny thing. Post-hardcore, screamo, blackgaze…all are applicable to Hidden Mothers, yet none of them fully encapsulate the 42 minutes of material on Erosion / Avulsion. I suppose something like atmospheric post-hardcore is probably the closest to it, but let’s not quibble over terms. Besides, all that really matters is the music and the impact it has. Continue reading “Hidden Mothers – Erosion / Avulsion (Review)”