Mourir – Animal Bouffe Animal (Review)

Mourir - Animal Bouffe AnimalThis is the debut album from Mourir, a black metal band from France.

The music on Animal Bouffe Animal takes influence from the Scandinavian second wave, but then updates this with modern touches and uncomfortable dissonance, scathing sludge, and harrowing doom. The end result is 34 minutes of atmospheric rawness that combines old and new to produce something hideously enjoyable. Continue reading “Mourir – Animal Bouffe Animal (Review)”

Eclipser – Pathos (Review)

Eclipser - PathosThis is the debut album from Canadian black metallers Eclipser.

This is black metal played with dark brutality and dissonant intensity. It’s a blackened hybrid that focuses more on black metal than anything else, but still finds time to incorporate death metal elements into itself with a voracious hunger. It’s Continue reading “Eclipser – Pathos (Review)”

Itheist – Itheist (Review)

Itheist - ItheistItheist are a UK black/death metal band and this is their debut album.

Previously named Aetherium Mors, this is the band’s first release under its new moniker. This is modern, dissonant black metal that’s been hybridised with death metal and energised with melodic darkness. Continue reading “Itheist – Itheist (Review)”

Temple Koludra – Seven! Sirens! To a Lost Archetype (Review)

Temple Koludra - Seven! Sirens! To a Lost ArchetypeThis is the debut album from Temple Koludra, a German black metal band.

Temple Koludra’s music uses black and death metal to craft a grim, raw exploration of Indian cultures and influences via extreme metal’s embracing framework. Continue reading “Temple Koludra – Seven! Sirens! To a Lost Archetype (Review)”

Ancient Hostility – Ancient Hostility (Review)

Ancient Hostility - Ancient HostilityAncient Hostility are a Ukrainian/US black metal band and this is their debut album.

This is, on the surface of things, a second wave black metal album, full of the sort of misanthropy and hatred that you’d expect for something like this. Scratch the surface, however, (and by this I mean actually listen to it), and you’ll also find a bit more than the norm here. Continue reading “Ancient Hostility – Ancient Hostility (Review)”

Deathspell Omega – The Furnaces of Palingenesia (Review)

Deathspell Omega - The Furnaces of PalingenesiaThis is the seventh album from french black metallers Deathspell Omega.

Deathspell Omega are well-known in black metal circles, and a new release is always somewhat of an event for people with a taste for high quality esoteric substance. Continue reading “Deathspell Omega – The Furnaces of Palingenesia (Review)”

Gaerea – Unsettling Whispers (Review)

GaereaGaerea are a Portuguese black metal band and this is their debut album.

On Unsettling Whispers Gaerea have crafted 42 minutes of black metal that’s distinctly non-standard and in many ways is quite…unsettling. Continue reading “Gaerea – Unsettling Whispers (Review)”

Carcinoma/Abyssal – Apanthropinization – Split (Review)

Carcinoma AbyssalCarcinoma and Abyssal are both blackened death metal bands from the UK that have teamed up for this split.

Carcinoma open the split, with four tracks lasting 15 minutes in duration. Continue reading “Carcinoma/Abyssal – Apanthropinization – Split (Review)”

Abduction – A l’Heure du Crépuscule (Review)

AbductionThis is the second album from French black metallers Abduction.

I liked Une Ombre Régit les Ombres a lot, so now that the band have returned with album number two, it’s time to get reacquainted with their characterful brand of black metal. Continue reading “Abduction – A l’Heure du Crépuscule (Review)”

Altar of Perversion – Intra Naos (Review)

Altar of PerversionAltar of Perversion are an Italian black metal band and this is their second album.

Sometimes I enjoy the challenge of getting to grips with something that’s absolutely immense in length and content. Intra Naos is exactly one such release. At 114 minutes in duration, it’s an ambitious release, and a potentially daunting proposition for even the hardened black metal fan. However, because the band producing this material have completely pulled it off, it can yield vast rewards for those willing and able to explore its many allures. Continue reading “Altar of Perversion – Intra Naos (Review)”