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)”

Above Aurora – Path to Ruin (Review)

Above AuroraAbove Aurora are a Polish black metal band and this is their latest EP.

Above Aurora play black metal laced with venom and swirling with dark energies. This release contains three songs with a total duration of 17 minutes, and should appeal to those that like their black metal to have a nuanced, mid-paced approach to spreading darkness. Continue reading “Above Aurora – Path to Ruin (Review)”

Golgothan Remains – Perverse Offerings to the Void (Review)

Golgothan RemainsThis is the debut album from Golgothan Remains, an Australian death metal band.

Golgothan Remains manage to fuse old-school ancient death metal influences with a more modern streak of black/death dissonance. Thinking of a mix of Immolation, Incantation, Ulcerate, and Deathspell Omega wouldn’t be entirely inappropriate. Continue reading “Golgothan Remains – Perverse Offerings to the Void (Review)”

Nigredo – Flesh Torn – Spirit Pierced (Review)

NigredoThis is the debut album from Nigredo, a black metal band from Greece.

Vicious and occult, Nigredo’s music is one of cutting edge blackened dissonance mixed with something more atavistic and primal. Continue reading “Nigredo – Flesh Torn – Spirit Pierced (Review)”