This is the seventh (and eighth) album(s) by German black metal band Waldgeflüster.
I’m a big fan of Waldgeflüster, so make sure you check out their past releases here, here, here, and here, and my review of their performance at last years Fortress Festival here. Now that’s out of the way, let’s turn our full attention to Knochengesänge. Continue reading “Waldgeflüster – Knochengesänge (Review)”
This is the debut album from US black/death metal band Rhizaria.
Rhizaria play a progressive form of black and death metal, delivering a hybrid style that’s irregular, and very compelling. Indulgences contains 40 minutes of material that scratches a very particular itch that sits right in a hard to reach place between atmosphere and dissonance. Continue reading “Rhizaria – Indulgences (Review)”
This is the second album by UK black metal band Ahamkara.
I’ve been waiting for a new Ahamkara album since 2014, which is a shockingly long time to wait for anything. The Embers of the Stars was a damn good album though, so now that a new record is here, it was not one I wanted to overlook. Unfortunately, it seems there was a good reason for this delay, as the promo blurb tells us – “Following ten years of silence after the release of their debut album “The Embers of the Stars” and the untimely death of vocalist Steven, Ahamkara return with a new lineup and new album “The Harrow of the Lost”, an unflinching exploration of the transformative nature of grief.” Continue reading “Ahamkara – The Harrow of the Lost (Review)”
This is the sixth album from UK one-man black metal band Saor.
After my 2022 introduction to Saor via the enjoyable Origins, I’ve since explored their back catalogue some more, and also seen them live and bought the t-shirt. This means I’ve been looking forward to Amidst the Ruins a great deal. Continue reading “Saor – Amidst the Ruins (Review)”
Atra Vetosus are an Australian black metal band and this is their third album.
I always enjoy catching up with Atra Vetosus. Periodically they emerge from wherever it is they slumber, unleashing quality black metal as they do so. If you haven’t heard them before, make sure you check out 2018’s Apricity and 2021’s Even the Dawn No Longer Brings Hope, alongside this new record, of course. Especially this new one, actually, as we’ll see. Continue reading “Atra Vetosus – Undying Splendour (Review)”
Wolvencrown are a black metal band from the UK and this is their second album.
After 2019’s very enjoyable Of Bark and Ash, Wolvencrown have now returned with the majestic Celestial Lands. Bigger, better, and more ambitious, the Wolvencrown of 2024 is a formidable force. Continue reading “Wolvencrown – Celestial Lands (Review)”
What an incredible lineup this is. I mean, just look at it. It’s ridiculous. I’ve never been to Fortress Festival before, (this is its second year), or Scarborough, but this was an event not to be missed. My words below won’t really do justice to what a great festival this was, but hopefully you’ll get a flavour of it at the very least.
Before we get into it – if you’ve ever read one of my live reviews previously you’ll notice that the quality of the photos used here far, far, far outstrips my usual meagre efforts. This is because I didn’t take them. I’m enormously pleased to say that they very talented Aleksandra Hogg captured and supplied all of these photos, and I urge you to check out her work at Acidolka here, here, or here. Continue reading “Fortress Festival 2024 – Scarborough Spa, Scarborough, 01-02/06/24 (Live Review)”
This is the latest EP from US black metal band Obsidian Tongue.
I’ve never properly reviewed anything by Obsidian Tongue, although I did love 2020’s Volume III and included it here. My very brief overview of “Highly accomplished atmospheric black metal with a voice of its own.” still applies, and The Stone Heart is definitely one to check out if you’re a fan of bands such as Agalloch, Wolves in the Throne Room, Wilt, Alda, etc. Continue reading “Obsidian Tongue – The Stone Heart (Review)”
This is the debut album from US black metal band Yfel.
Across the 40 minutes of music on Beneath the Mountain’s Vigil Yfel reveal themselves as very capable purveyors of atmospheric black metal. Continue reading “Yfel – Beneath the Mountain’s Vigil (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Scottish epic black metallers Ruadh.
Oh dear, it’s taken me an obscene amount of time to finally check out Ruadh, after thoroughly enjoying them at this year’s Reaper Festival. Ah well, better late than never, and 1296 has definitely been worth the wait. Continue reading “Ruadh – 1296 (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 