Dark Funeral – Wonderbox Metal

Sidious – Malefic Necropolis (Review)

This 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)”

Wrath of Logarius – Crown of Mortis (Review)

This is the debut album from US black metallers Wrath of Logarius.

Crown of Mortis contains 37 minutes of modern black metal, incorporating elements of death metal to make a highly compelling whole. Continue reading “Wrath of Logarius – Crown of Mortis (Review)”

Ninkharsag – The Black Swords of Winter (Review)

This is the latest EP from UK black metallers Ninkharsag.

This has been a long time coming. In a similar way to the recent Abduction album Existentialismus, I saw Ninkharsag play songs from this release live back in February 2024, but it’s only now seeing the light of day. Has it been worth the wait to hear Ninkharsag’s brand of melodic black metal once more? Continue reading “Ninkharsag – The Black Swords of Winter (Review)”

1349 – The Wolf and the King (Review)

This is the eighth album from Norwegian black metallers 1349.

1349 boast current/ex-members of Gorgoroth, Keep of Kalessin, Mortem, and Satyricon in their ranks, and they provide us with 39 minutes of Norwegian black metal in the form of The Wolf and the King. Continue reading “1349 – The Wolf and the King (Review)”

Kvaen – The Formless Fires (Review)

This is the third album from Swedish black metal solo act Kvaen.

The name Kvaen hit the black metal underground hard with 2020’s The Funeral Pyre, and then followed this up in 2022 with The Great Below, which showed that the quality of the debut was no fluke. Another two years have passed, and now we have The Formless Fires. Do the 39 minutes of new music here still demonstrate a continuation of these quality levels? Continue reading “Kvaen – The Formless Fires (Review)”

Vredehammer – God Slayer (Review)

This is the fourth album from Norwegian black/death/thrash metal solo act Vredehammer.

It’s been a while since I’ve caught up with Vredehammer – 2016’s Violator in fact, a record which I enjoyed a great deal. God Slayer provides 39 minutes of satisfying extreme metal for the listener to enjoy. Now a solo act, (with the formidable ex-Dark Funeral/Nordjevel drummer as session musician), Vredehammer’s latest record hits the spot. Continue reading “Vredehammer – God Slayer (Review)”

Corpus Diavolis – Elixiria Ekstasis (Review)

This is the fifth album from Corpus Diavolis, a French black metal band.

I enjoyed 2017’s Atra Lumen and 2021’s Apocatastase, (which I honestly thought I had reviewed), so when the promo for Elixiria Ekstasis appeared I wanted very much to be able to get to it. Alas, it was not to be, as sadly there just isn’t enough time in the world. However, as I like Corpus Diavolis I eventually made the mistake of listening to it – a mistake, only because it’s damn good and I knew I had to write about it – which is why, despite this coming out in March, you’re reading this now. Continue reading “Corpus Diavolis – Elixiria Ekstasis (Review)”

Imperatus – At the Mercy of the Wind (Review)

Imperatus are a Vietnamese black metal band and this is their debut album.

Imperatus play second wave black metal that’s spiced up with thrash and death metal flavouring. The promo blurb states that this is for fans of Marduk, Immortal, Nordjevel, and Dark Funeral, which sets the scene nicely for what At the Mercy of the Wind has to offer. Continue reading “Imperatus – At the Mercy of the Wind (Review)”

Serpents Oath – Revelation (Review)

Serpents Oath are a black metal band from Belgium and this is their third album.

Following quickly on from last year’s Ascension, Revelation contains 47 minutes of new material for lovers of the classic blackened style. Continue reading “Serpents Oath – Revelation (Review)”

Helfró – Tálgröf (Review)

Helfró are a black/death metal band from Iceland and this is their second album.

Following on from 2020’s enjoyable Helfró comes Tálgröf, which boasts 36 minutes of new material. Marginally shorter than its predecessor, despite having one track more, what does this mean for the Helfró of 2023? Continue reading “Helfró – Tálgröf (Review)”