Forsmán – Brenndar Rústir & Fuðrandi Fjörur (Review)

Forsmán - Brenndar Rústir & Fuðrandi FjörurThis is the debut album from Icelandic black metallers Forsmán.

Brenndar Rústir & Fuðrandi Fjörur is the 46-minute follow up to 2021’s promising debut EP Dönsum i Logans Ljóma. Containing members of Misþyrming and Múr, Forsmán’s brand of esoteric black metal is a very potent one. Continue reading “Forsmán – Brenndar Rústir & Fuðrandi Fjörur (Review)”

Mork – Monolitt (Review)

Mork - MonolittThis is the eighth album from Norwegian black metal solo act Mork.

This is old-school Norwegian black metal, played by a musician that knows the style inside out. He’s aided on Monolitt by a drummer and additional vocalist; so combined, Monolitt is an easily enjoyable listen for fans of classic black metal. The latest Mork album has arrived, fully formed and ready to assert its dominance. Does it have the power to? Continue reading “Mork – Monolitt (Review)”

Dimmu Borgir – Grand Serpent Rising (Review)

Dimmu Borgir - Grand Serpent RisingThis is the tenth album from Norwegian black metallers Dimmu Borgir.

Eight long years since 2018’s Eonian, the legendary Dimmu Borgir have returned. Bringing the world 72 minutes of new material, Grand Serpent Rising is an unexpectedly atavistic record, but is all the better for it. Continue reading “Dimmu Borgir – Grand Serpent Rising (Review)”

Lorn – Searing Blood (Review)

Lorn - Searing LightLorn are an Italian black metal band and this is their fourth album.

Following on from 2017’s Arrayed Claws, Lorn have now returned with the 41-minute Searing Blood. It’s not the same Lorn as previously encountered though. However, when you listen to Searing Blood, it’s hard to complain. This is a shockingly good record. Continue reading “Lorn – Searing Blood (Review)”

Blood Countess – Imperatrix Sanguinis (Review)

Blood Countess - Imperatrix SanguinisBlood Countess are a black metal band from the UK and this is their second album.

After Blood Countess’s absolutely savage performance at this year’s Reaper Fest, it’s now time to see what they’re capable of on record. Can Imperatrix Sanguinis capture the band’s blood-soaked raw vitality across its 39-minute running time? Continue reading “Blood Countess – Imperatrix Sanguinis (Review)”

Cnoc an Tursa – A Cry for the Slain (Review)

Cnoc an Tursa - A Cry for the SlainThis is the third album from Scottish folk black metal band Cnoc an Tursa.

Brought into the world by current/ex-members of Barshasketh and Ruadh, A Cry for the Slain contains 44 minutes of folk-enriched black metal. The promo blurb states that this is for fans of Primordial, Winterfylleth, Saor, and Forefather, so with that in mind, it’s Continue reading “Cnoc an Tursa – A Cry for the Slain (Review)”

Aldheorte – The Wild Divine (Review)

Aldheorte - The Wild DivineAldheorte are a black metal band from the US and this is their second album.

The Wild Divine is a 37-minute dose of classic black metal darkness. Aldheorte play their material with icy aggression and despondent atmospheres. If you’re a fan of bands from the 90s era, then Continue reading “Aldheorte – The Wild Divine (Review)”

Nazghor – A World Ablaze (Review)

Nazghor - A World AblazeNazghor are a Swedish black metal band and this is their eighth album.

Nazghor play old-school melodic black metal that drips with second wave darkness. On the 40-minute A World Ablaze, Nazghor capably showcase why their black metal is a cut above the norm. Get ready to immerse yourself in Nazghor’s fiery world. Continue reading “Nazghor – A World Ablaze (Review)”

Sidious – Malefic Necropolis (Review)

Sidious - Malefic NecropolisThis is the fourth album from UK black metal band Sidious.

From 2014’s symphonic blackened death metal Revealed in Profane Splendour, to 2019’s reinvention as the raw black metal darkness of Temporal, and then 2022’s slice of contemporary blackened might Blackest Insurrection, Sidious always put out something I want to listen to. Each album so far has been better than the last too. Can Malefic Necropolis continue to follow this upward trend? Continue reading “Sidious – Malefic Necropolis (Review)”

Fuath – III (Review)

Fuath - IIIThis is the third album from Fuath, a one-man UK black metal band.

I enjoyed 2020’s II, so the appearance of III is a most welcome sight. Brought to us by the artist behind Saor, this is old-school black metal with an atmospheric focus. III contains four songs and clocks in at 43 minutes in total duration. Continue reading “Fuath – III (Review)”