Mountain Shadow – Mountain Shadow (Review)

Mountain ShadowThis is the debut album from US black metal band Mountain Shadow.

Mountain Shadow play atmospheric black metal and their self titled record contains 53 minutes of material. It might not be what you’re expecting though, as Mountain Shadow have created something a little different in some ways on these eight tracks. Continue reading “Mountain Shadow – Mountain Shadow (Review)”

UdÃ¥d – UdÃ¥d (Review)

Udåd - UdådThis is the debut album from Norwegian solo black metal act Udåd.

Brought to us by the artist behind Mork, UdÃ¥d contains 47 minutes of raw, old-school black metal. UdÃ¥d contains primal blackened energies that are channelled directly from the early 90s, but given a creative twist of the knife by the artist’s keen vision. Continue reading “UdÃ¥d – UdÃ¥d (Review)”

Lunar Spells – Sacraments of Necromantical Empires (Review)

Lunar Spells - Sacraments of Necromantical EmpiresThis is the third album from Greek black metal band Lunar Spells.

Ever since first encountering Lunar Spells last year on their split with Order of Nosferat I’ve been interested to see what they could do with a full length, and that time has now arrived. With 36 minutes of piercing black metal, Sacraments of Necromantical Empires has not disappointed. Continue reading “Lunar Spells – Sacraments of Necromantical Empires (Review)”

Devastator – Conjurers of Cruelty (Review)

Devastator - Conjurers of CrueltyThis is the second album from UK black/thrash metallers Devastator.

Conjurers of Cruelty boasts 51 minutes of material, (44 without the two bonus tracks), delivering a feast of filthy riffs, corroded teeth, and overgrown claws. Continue reading “Devastator – Conjurers of Cruelty (Review)”

Ponte del Diavolo – Fire Blades from the Tomb (Review)

Ponte del Diavolo - Fire Blades from the TombThis is the debut album from Italian blackened doom metal band Ponte del Diavolo.

Okay, so here we have something quite interesting. When the promo blurb mentions both Electric Wizard and Darkthrone, you know it’s one to take an interest in. I will say that this doesn’t fully cover what you’ll find on Fire Blades from the Tomb though, so I’ll also mention here bands such as Messa, King Woman, Vanishing Kids, and Siouxsie and the Banshees, to give a broader impression. Continue reading “Ponte del Diavolo – Fire Blades from the Tomb (Review)”

Boarhammer – II: Chemognosis – A Shortcut to Mushrooms (Review)

Boarhammer - II Chemognosis – A Shortcut to MushroomsBoarhammer are a German black metal band and this is their debut album.

II: Chemognosis – A Shortcut to Mushrooms contains 45 minutes, (with the bonus track), of old-school black metal. So old-school in fact, that it’s a blend of first and second wave influences, rather than the latter only. Boarhammer channel the spirits of Darkthrone, Venom, Celtic Frost, and Bathory, and they do so rather well. Continue reading “Boarhammer – II: Chemognosis – A Shortcut to Mushrooms (Review)”

The Infernal Sea – Hellfenlic (Review)

The Infernal Sea - HellfenlicThe Infernal Sea are a black metal band from the UK and this is their fourth album.

Following on from 2015’s The Great Mortality and 2020’s Negotium Crucis, Hellfenlic contains 43 minutes of new material for us to eagerly get our grubby hands on. To me, The Infernal Sea are a standout band in the UK scene, and Hellfenlic simply reinforces their exalted status. Continue reading “The Infernal Sea – Hellfenlic (Review)”

Narbeleth – A Pale Crown (Review)

Narbeleth - A Pale CrownThis is the sixth album from Cuban black metallers Narbeleth.

I always enjoy a new Narbeleth release. If you haven’t already, make sure you check out 2014’s A Hatred Manifesto, 2015’s Through Blackness and Remote Places, 2017’s Indomitvs, and 2021’s Svmma Cvm Nox Arcana, as all are records worthy of your attention if you enjoy second wave black metal. Continuing the trend of releasing albums with seven originals and one cover song, (Satyricon in this case), A Pale Crown contains 45 minutes of material for black metal devotees to savour. Continue reading “Narbeleth – A Pale Crown (Review)”

Floodhag/Lust Hag – Hagridden Black Metal – Split (Review)

Floodhag Lust Hag - Hagridden Black Metal - SplitThis is a split between two US solo black metal bands, Floodhag and Lust Hag.

Opening the split is Floodhag, offering up three songs, with a total duration of 12 minutes. Continue reading “Floodhag/Lust Hag – Hagridden Black Metal – Split (Review)”

Ancient Torment/Haxen – The Howling Gale – Split (Review)

Ancient Torment Haxen - The Howling Gale - SplitAncient Torment and Haxen are both US black metal bands, and they have teamed up for this split release.

Ancient Torment, (who feature an ex-member of Abnormality), open the split, with two songs lasting 13 minutes in total. Continue reading “Ancient Torment/Haxen – The Howling Gale – Split (Review)”