Dødheimsgard – Wonderbox Metal

Heathe – Control Your Soul’s Desire for Freedom (Review)

This is the second album from Heathe, a post-metal/rock band from Denmark.

Control Your Soul’s Desire for Freedom is the 64-minute follow up to 2019’s On the Tombstones; the Symbols Engraved. Heathe have developed their sound on this new record, expanding widely into multifaceted waters that take in a broad set of influences. I’ve tagged this above as post-metal/rock, but it’s not really – at least not in any traditional sense. They are simply the closest broad terms relevant. There’s certainly very little in the way of metal on this record, for example. Heathe exist in a niche world, where a lot of recognisable materials have been mangled into something quite atypical. Continue reading “Heathe – Control Your Soul’s Desire for Freedom (Review)”

Kamra – Unending Confluence (Review)

Kamra are a black metal band from Slovenia and this is their second album.

Kamra have a member of Assumption in their ranks, and Unending Confluence contains 41 minutes of music. This is black metal influenced by the old-school, but dragged by lethal dissonance into the modern era. Continue reading “Kamra – Unending Confluence (Review)”

Esoctrilihum – Ghostigmatah – Spiritual Rites of the Psychopomp Abxulöm (Review)

This is the twelfth album from French one-man black metal band Esoctrilihum.

It’s always a pleasure to get a new Esoctrilihum release. If you’re familiar with the artist’s past work, (such as 2018’s Pandaemorthium (Forbidden Formulas to Awaken the Blind Sovereigns of Nothingness), 2021’s Dy’th Requiem for the Serpent Telepath, 2022’s Consecration of the Spiritüs Flesh, 2023’s Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac, or 2024’s Döth-Dernyàlh), you’ll know that you never quite know quite what to expect from this prolific and idiosyncratic artist. What does the 87-minute Ghostigmatah – Spiritual Rites of the Psychopomp Abxulöm have in store for us? Continue reading “Esoctrilihum – Ghostigmatah – Spiritual Rites of the Psychopomp Abxulöm (Review)”

Execrari – Desolation Manifest (Review)

This is the debut album from US black metal band Execrari.

Containing a member of Relentless, Execrari’s style is rooted in black metal’s second wave, while also showing some contemporary influences and progressive, melodic, and avant-garde tendencies. Desolation Manifest has come out of nowhere to really impress. There are six songs, spanning 47 minutes, and each track is a powerful reminder of just how potent black metal can be in the right hands. Exciting even, despite its ancient roots. Continue reading “Execrari – Desolation Manifest (Review)”

Aeon Winds – An Ode to the Mountains (Review)

This is the fourth album from Slovakian black metal band Aeon Winds.

An Ode to the Mountains contains 60 minutes, (with bonus track), of symphonic black metal. Aeon Winds play in the older style, recalling bands such as Aquilus, Emperor, Limbonic Art, and Midnight Odyssey. Continue reading “Aeon Winds – An Ode to the Mountains (Review)”

Bergthron – Neu Asen Land (Review)

Bergthron are a German black metal band and this is their seventh album.

After a 15-year absence, Bergthron have unexpectedly appeared out of nowhere with 32 minutes of new material in the form of Neu Asen Land. If you know any of Bergthron’s first few albums or so, this almost sounds like a completely different band, so don’t go expecting the sprawling atmospheric black metal epics of their early work. If you’re unfamiliar with them though, or aren’t bothered by a change in direction, then there’s much to enjoy here if you are of a certain taste. Continue reading “Bergthron – Neu Asen Land (Review)”

Esoctrilihum – Döth-Dernyàlh (Review)

This is the eleventh album from French one-man black metal band Esoctrilihum.

Over the years I’ve developed a real fondness for the creative blackened output of this prolific artist. 2018’s Pandaemorthium (Forbidden Formulas to Awaken the Blind Sovereigns of Nothingness) started my journey, 2021’s Dy’th Requiem for the Serpent Telepath really made a mark, 2022’s Consecration of the Spiritüs Flesh was harsh and unforgiving, and then last year’s monster triple album Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac was far more enthralling than anything as long as that had any right to be. Of course, then there’s also the rest of the Esoctrilihum’s discography too, which I haven’t reviewed. For now though, we have the colossal 80-minute Döth-Dernyàlh. Continue reading “Esoctrilihum – Döth-Dernyàlh (Review)”

Moonreich – Amer (Review)

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

Moonreich’s aggressive brand of modern black metal is always good to hear. Following on from 2018’s Fugue and 2019’s Wormgod, Amer contains 43 minutes of new material from this enjoyable band. Continue reading “Moonreich – Amer (Review)”

Dødheimsgard – Black Medium Current (Review)

This is the sixth album from avant-garde black metal band Dødheimsgard.

Black Medium Current contains 70 minutes of material, which is, I confess, a rather bland way of introducing such a superlative record. It’s hard to know where to start with an album like this though, as there’s just so much to explore here, and it’s all so very high in quality. Continue reading “Dødheimsgard – Black Medium Current (Review)”

Altari – Kröflueldar (Review)

Altari are a black metal band from Iceland and this is their debut album.

Altari play a form of black metal that has an individual vision for the style. The band approach their art from an avant-garde/experimental point of view, and create music that very much has its own identity. Continue reading “Altari – Kröflueldar (Review)”