Abhoria – Abhoria (Review)

Abhoria - AbhoriaThis is the debut album from US black metallers Abhoria.

So, here we have a 42-minute black metal release that claims inspiration from Immortal, Dark Funeral and Emperor. How could I resist sampling its dark delights?

Abhoria present their second wave-influenced assault with a Continue reading “Abhoria – Abhoria (Review)”

The Mist from the Mountains – Monumental – The Temple of Twilight (Review)

The Mist from the Mountains - Monumental - The Temple of TwilightThe Mist from the Mountains are a Finnish black metal band and this is their debut album.

Monumental – The Temple of Twilight contains 38 minutes of 90s-influenced nature-inspired black metal. The promo blurb mentions bands from that era such as Old Man’s Child, Gehenna, Dimmu Borgir, and Borknagar, which, coupled with the enticing album art, meant I definitely had to give The Mist from the Mountains some of my attention. Continue reading “The Mist from the Mountains – Monumental – The Temple of Twilight (Review)”

Tyhjä – Valtakunta (Review)

Tyhjä - ValtakuntaThis is the second album from Tyhjä, a black metal band from Finland.

We’ve met Tyhjä before on their 2017 debut EP. Apparently they had an album out in 2019, which I completely missed, so this is my first exposure to them since that first release. Continue reading “Tyhjä – Valtakunta (Review)”

Pakkt – To Brocken Heights Where Witches Dance (Review)

Pakkt - To Brocken Heights Where Witches DanceArmed only with the album cover and the briefest promo blurb I’ve probably ever seen simply identifying this as black metal, I decided to take a chance on it. In fact, I’ll reproduce the promo text in its entirety here – Continue reading “Pakkt – To Brocken Heights Where Witches Dance (Review)”

Doedsvangr – Serpents ov Old (Review)

Doedsvangr - Serpents ov OldDoedsvangr are a black metal band from Norway/Finland and this is their second album.

2017’s Satan ov Suns was an enjoyable record, so I’m glad we now have a new album of occult second wave black metal fury to explore. Made by musicians with a huge range of experience, (having spent time in bands such as Nordjevel, Behexen, Aosoth, Tsjuder, Sargeist, Horna, Nightbringer, Antaeus,  and Temple of Baal, to name just a handful), Serpents ov Old is the sound of a group that really know what they’re doing with the style. Continue reading “Doedsvangr – Serpents ov Old (Review)”

Sepulchre by the Sea – Ratiocinations (Review)

Sepulchre by the Sea - RatiocinationsThis is the latest EP from one-man UK post-black metal band Sepulchre by the Sea.

This is the follow up to 2020’s striking Conqueror Worm, which I really liked.

This EP provides us with 26 minutes of new material. The style is a mix of old and new, Continue reading “Sepulchre by the Sea – Ratiocinations (Review)”

Night Crowned – Hädanfärd (Review)

Night Crowned - HädanfärdThis is the second album from Swedish black metal band Night Crowned.

Featuring current and ex-members of bands such as Nightrage, The Unguided, Dark Funeral, and Imperium, Night Crowned play a melodic mix of black and death metal, (weighted towards the former), influenced by the 90s Scandinavian scene. Continue reading “Night Crowned – Hädanfärd (Review)”

Saille – V (Review)

Saille - VThis is the fifth album from Belgian black metallers Saille.

Following on from 2014’s Eldritch and 2017’s Gnosis, Saille now return with V, which contains 46 minutes of new material. Saille are not the same band we have met in the past, however. The 2021 incarnation of Saille is Continue reading “Saille – V (Review)”

Isolert – World in Ruins (Review)

Isolert - World in RuinsThis is the second album from Greek black metallers Isolert.

Isolert specialise in Scandinavian-style second wave black metal, and I like the way they play it. Thus far, 2015’s Isolated Soul, 2016’s No Hope, No Light…Only Death, and 2017’s Towards the Great Dissolution, (a split with Insanity Cult), all satisfied, and now the band are back Continue reading “Isolert – World in Ruins (Review)”