Blut Aus Nord – Page 2 – Wonderbox Metal

Sühnopfer – Nous Sommes d’Hier (Review)

This is the fourth album from one-man French black metal band Sühnopfer.

This is the third release I’ve covered from Sühnopfer, (the other two being 2014’s Offertoire and 2019’s Hic Regnant Borbonii Manes), so it’s welcome to hear more from this artist. Across 55 minutes of new material, (which includes a black metal interpretation of a song from 1968 by Michel Polnareff), Nous Sommes d’Hier impresses with its compelling take on the melodic blackened style. Continue reading “Sühnopfer – Nous Sommes d’Hier (Review)”

Blut Aus Nord – Disharmonium – Nahab (Review)

This is the fifteenth album from Blut Aus Nord, a French black metal band.

Blut Aus Nord have an enviable discography, (see Triunity, Memoria Vetusta III: Saturnian Poetry, Deus Salutis Meæ, Hallucinogen, and this new album’s direct predecessor – Disharmonium – Undreamable Abysses, as a few examples), and they’ve now already added to it again with the 44 minutes of new material that is Disharmonium – Nahab. Continue reading “Blut Aus Nord – Disharmonium – Nahab (Review)”

Nixil – From the Wound Spilled Forth Fire (Review)

Nixil are a US black metal band and this is their second album.

From the Wound Spilled Forth Fire presents us with 43 minutes of black metal that is intimately acquainted with a darker side of the style that’s both vicious and mood-rich. Continue reading “Nixil – From the Wound Spilled Forth Fire (Review)”

Wampyric Rites/Moloch – The Serpent Cult of Darkness – Split (Review)

Wampyric Rites and Moloch are both black metal bands, from Ecuador and Ukraine, respectively.

Ever since encountering Wampyric Rites on their 2022 album The Wolves Howl to the Moon, I’ve been smitten, so when this split appeared I knew I wanted to hear it. The band contribute two songs to The Serpent Cult of Darkness, with a combined total duration of 19 minutes. Continue reading “Wampyric Rites/Moloch – The Serpent Cult of Darkness – Split (Review)”

Hasard – Malivore (Review)

This is the debut album from one-man black metal band Hasard.

Malivore contains 45 minutes of dark, nightmarish black metal. It’s a dissonant, avant-garde style, infected with bleak atmosphere and classical symphonic influences. For a rough guide, think of bands such as Ævangelist, Abyssal, Akhlys, and Blut Aus Nord. Continue reading “Hasard – Malivore (Review)”

Altari – Kröflueldar (Review)

Altari are a black metal band from Iceland and this is their debut album.

Altari play a form of black metal that has an individual vision for the style. The band approach their art from an avant-garde/experimental point of view, and create music that very much has its own identity. Continue reading “Altari – Kröflueldar (Review)”

Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites) – Ψευδομένη (Review)

This is the debut album from Ὁπλίτης (otherwise known as Hoplites), a one-man post-black metal band from China.

Ψευδομένη contains 38 minutes of experimental avant-garde black metal. The artist behind Ὁπλίτης has combined a lot of different styles and influences into this record. Imagine Blut Aus Nord, Jute Gyte, and Deathspell Omega crossed with Frontierer, Converge, and Sectioned, along with a touch of Ephel Duath and Oranssi Pazuzu, and you’ll have a rough idea of what you’ll encounter here. Continue reading “Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites) – Ψευδομένη (Review)”

Invertia – Through the Black Bubble (Review)

This is the fourth album from US industrial black/sludge metal band Invertia.

When I last caught up with Invertia it was on 2014’s Another Scheme of the Wicked, where they played industrial black metal, complete with remixes of the original tracks. Nine years or so later, the band’s music is darker and uglier, yet also laced with hooks and catchy riffs and beats. Continue reading “Invertia – Through the Black Bubble (Review)”

Dødsengel – Bab Al On (Review)

This is the fifth album from Norwegian black metal band Dødsengel.

I haven’t caught up with Dødsengel in a while, but enjoyed both their 2013 split with Nightbringer – Circumambulations of the Solar Inferno – and their 2017 album Interequinox, so when Bab Al On appeared with its very striking album art, I knew I wanted to explore that it had to offer. Continue reading “Dødsengel – Bab Al On (Review)”

Lykotonon – Promethean Pathology (Review)

This is the debut album from US black metallers Lykotonon.

An experimental black metal band featuring members of Blood Incantation and Wayfarer? Sign me up! Promethean Pathology contains 39 minutes of darkness, and offers a journey not to be missed for connoisseurs of the underground. Continue reading “Lykotonon – Promethean Pathology (Review)”