Monthly Overview – the Best of September 2022

September was a particularly difficult month to have to limit my choice of key metal albums to just five. As such, I’m going to skip over both An Abstract Illusion’s Woe and Gaerea’s Mirage; both are great records and are getting abundant, richly-deserved praise elsewhere, allowing me to focus on lesser-known releases. Even with this though, I still struggled with having to omit so many other worthy albums… Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of September 2022”

Vessel of Iniquity – The Path Unseen (Review)

Vessel of Iniquity - The Path UnseenThis is the third album from Vessel of Iniquity, a black metal solo act from the UK.

Lasting a brief, yet scarring, 30 minutes, The Path Unseen is a horrific nightmarescape of industrial black metal, replete with harsh noise and terrifying atmosphere. Having enjoyed/weathered the artist’s 2021 split with Thecodontion, I was looking forward to hearing more and The Path Unseen has not disappointed. Continue reading “Vessel of Iniquity – The Path Unseen (Review)”

Terra – Für Dich Existiert Das Alles Nicht (Review)

Terra - Für Dich Existiert Das Alles NichtThis is the third album from UK black metal band Terra.

Für Dich Existiert Das Alles Nicht contains 65 minutes of atmospheric black metal, and is recommended for fans of bands such as Wolves in the Throne Room, Yellow Eyes, Winterfylleth, Fell Voices, and Weakling. Continue reading “Terra – Für Dich Existiert Das Alles Nicht (Review)”

Ghozer – Black Lotus (Review)

Ghozer - Black LotusThis is the debut album from UK stoner rock band Ghozer.

It’s been four year’s since Ghozer’s enjoyable debut EP, but now the band have returned with 49 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Ghozer – Black Lotus (Review)”

Nadja – Labyrinthine (Review)

Nadja - LabyrinthineThis is the latest release from Nadja, a doom/drone duo from Canada.

Nadja are a great band, (make sure you check out the stunning Sv), and they have an astonishing amount of releases under their belt. This latest one is something a little exceptional though, as the normally largely instrumental duo have recruited a different vocalist for each of the colossal four songs that make up this 63-minute album. Continue reading “Nadja – Labyrinthine (Review)”

Locrian – New Catastrophism (Review)

Locrian - New CatastrophismLocrian are a US experimental drone band and this is their seventh album.

It has been seven long years since 2015’s Infinite Dissolution, but Locrian have finally resurfaced to bring us a tale of apocalyptic decline and environmental decay. New Catastrophism is a different record to its predecessor though. It contains 36 minutes of new material divided into four tracks, and showcases Locrian at their sparsest, yet also their most immersive and atmospheric. Continue reading “Locrian – New Catastrophism (Review)”

Peurbleue – La Ciguë (Review)

Peurbleue - La CiguëThis is the debut album from French black metal band Peurbleue.

Peurbleue play a form of mood-rich, electronically enhanced black metal. La Ciguë is a 36-minute soundscape of dark atmosphere and mysterious textures. Continue reading “Peurbleue – La Ciguë (Review)”

1/2 Southern North – Narrations of a Fallen Soul (Review)

12 Southern North - Narrations of a Fallen SoulThis is the debut album from 1/2 Southern Soul, a one-woman blackened doom band from Greece.

Narrations of a Fallen Soul is a 67-minute journey into lesser travelled terrain. Powered by a single creative artist, but fleshed out by many guests on different tracks and instruments, (including drums, saxophone, violin, davul, kaval, and dahare), 1/2 Southern North provides an unusual album that is well-crafted and realised. Continue reading “1/2 Southern North – Narrations of a Fallen Soul (Review)”