This is the tenth album from legendary Norwegian black metal band Immortal.
Whereas on 2018’s Northern Chaos Gods Immortal were a duo, on War Against All the band have now been slimmed down further to just one original member, and is now essentially a solo act, albeit with session musicians, (from Enslaved and Gaahls Wyrd). Continue reading “Immortal – War Against All (Review)”
This is the second album from Dawn of Ouroboros, a progressive black/death metal band from the US.
Following on from 2020’s well-received The Art of Morphology, Velvet Incandescence brings us 46 minutes of new material from Dawn of Ouroboros, who feature members of Botanist and Cailleach Calling. Continue reading “Dawn of Ouroboros – Velvet Incandescence (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Italian doom metal band Shores of Null.
I thoroughly enjoyed 2020’s single track album Beyond the Shores (on Death and Dying), so knew that I wanted to catch up with The Loss of Beauty when it appeared. Unlike its predecessor, this new album is divided into individual tracks, and delivers 55 minutes of material, (or 49 minutes without the bonus tracks). Continue reading “Shores of Null – The Loss of Beauty (Review)”
Enslaved are a Norwegian progressive black metal band and this is their sixteenth album.
Following on from 2017’s E and 2020’s Utgard, Enslaved return once more with Heimdal, 48 minutes of progressive black metal. Or, probably more accurately, blackened progressive metal. Either way, Heimdall essentially continues the path that Utgard started upon, breaking new ground, while still keeping a firm eye on where the band came from. Continue reading “Enslaved – Heimdal (Review)”
This is the debut album from Natt, a Norwegian progressive/post-rock/doom band.
Natt contains just three songs, with 45 minutes of music. They’re an instrumental duo, although they’re joined on this recording by session musicians on bass and drums/percussion, (the latter from Enslaved). I’m not normally drawn to instrumental music, but one look at the strangely disturbing album artwork made me want to hear this work, and I’m so glad it did. Continue reading “Natt – Natt (Review)”
This is the fifth album from US black metal band Black Anvil.
2014’s Hail Death and 2017’s As Was were both enjoyable records that made an impact. The latter took the band in increasingly atmospheric and progressive directions, so what does the 50-minute Regenesis offer? Continue reading “Black Anvil – Regenesis (Review)”
Anomalie are an Austrian post-black metal band and this is their fourth album.
Following on from 2017’s well-received Visions, (via an EP I haven’t heard), Tranceformation contains 44 minutes of new material, and comes with a newly-focused direction to boot. A rough reference point for what Tranceformation sounds like would be a mix of bands such as Schammasch, Enslaved, and old Anomalie, although to be honest this is only a very approximate guide at best, especially as some songs have a modern doom metal flavour too, (most notably opening track). Continue reading “Anomalie – Tranceformation (Review)”
This is the fifth album from Cuban black metallers Narbeleth.
I always enjoy catching up with new Narbeleth material. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, also make sure you check out 2014’s A Hatred Manifesto, 2015’s Through Blackness and Remote Places, and 2017’s Indomitvs. Continue reading “Narbeleth – Svmma Cvm Nox Arcana (Review)”
Noctule is a one-woman black metal band from the UK, and this is her debut album.
Brought to us by the singer/guitarist of Svalbard, Wretched Abyss is a 42-minute Skyrim-themed album that takes some of the darker and melodic elements you can hear in Svalbard’s sound, and wraps them around a blackened core. Continue reading “Noctule – Wretched Abyss (Review)”
This is the second album from Dordeduh, a progressive metal band from Romania.
Featuring current/ex-members of Argus Megere/Negură Bunget, Har treats the listener to 62 minutes of blackened progressive metal. Continue reading “Dordeduh – Har (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 