This is the fourth album from doom rockers Avatarium, who are from Sweden.
2017’s Hurricanes and Halos was a quality album that stood out from other ostensibly similar bands playing this sort of style. On The Fire I Long For, however, there’s the impression that the band have really come into their own. Continue reading “Avatarium – The Fire I Long For (Review)”
This is the second album from Dawn Ray’d, a black metal band from the UK.
Dawn Ray’d play classic, second wave-inspired black metal, with moments of folk interspersed here and there. Violin features prominently, and enhances the music in unobtrusive ways. Continue reading “Dawn Ray’d – Behold Sedition Plainsong (Review)”
This is the second album from Maïeutiste, a French Black Metal band.
2015’s Maïeutiste was a record that impressed. Full of wide-ranging content and engaging blackened exploration, it was an album of fire and mystery. Veritas continues the theme developed in the band’s earlier work, only to refine it further. Continue reading “Maïeutiste – Veritas (Review)”
Sur Austru are an atmospheric black/folk metal band from Romania and this is their debut album.
Featuring ex-members of Negura Bunget, Sur Austru play a black/folk metal hybrid that has surprised me by how much I’ve enjoyed it. Continue reading “Sur Austru – Meteahna Timpurilor (Review)”
This is the second album from US black metallers Salvaticus.
2014 seems quite long ago, but that was when the very enjoyable Hidden Manna was released. I really, really liked that record, and it even made my end of year list for that year. Over five years later, the band have now returned with Ordo Naturalis, and it seems they have been busy. Continue reading “Salvaticus – Ordo Naturalis (Review)”
This is the fifth album from US black metal band Falls of Rauros.
After 2014’s very strong Believe in No Coming Shore, and then 2017’s Vigilance Perennial, which was even stronger, we now turn to Patterns in Mythology. Have the band managed to continue their upward trajectory? Continue reading “Falls of Rauros – Patterns in Mythology (Review)”
Ashbringer are an atmospheric black metal band from the US and this is their third album.
Ashbringer’s black metal combines aggressive blackness with melodic sensibilities and folk-influenced post-rock reflection. Elements of bands such as Fen, Agalloch, Falls of Rauros, Amiensus, and Alcest can be heard, but moulded and channelled through Ashbringer’s own collective experiences and personality. Continue reading “Ashbringer – Absolution (Review)”
Nyss are a French black metal band and this is their second album.
Nyss’s 2017 debut album Princesse Terre (Three Studies of Silence and Death) was an atmospheric and raw slice of blackened art that struck a chord with me, and I’ve returned to it many times since. Continue reading “Nyss – Dépayser (Review)”
This is the fourth album from UK atmospheric/post-metal band Latitudes.
Having enjoyed 2016’s Old Sunlight, when Part Island made its presence felt I was compelled to sample its delights. I’m glad I did, as Part Island is a stunningly well-realised development of the band’s sound. Continue reading “Latitudes – Part Island (Review)”
This is the debut album from Khôrada, a progressive/doom/post-metal band from the US.
Featuring most of the members of the much-missed Agalloch coupled with the singer of Giant Squid, this album contains 55 minutes of contemplative, intelligently-composed music.
Now here’s an album with real emotive power. The music can be loosely termed as progressive post-metal, but there’s a multitude of different styles skilfully incorporated into this release. Continue reading “Khôrada – Salt (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 