It’s Damnation o-clock once more! This is always such a good festival to attend. The line up is an interesting and varied one, with some bands I’m less interested in, some that are an essential experience, and some frustrating clashes. I missed some great bands today, unfortunately, but that’s always going to be the case with such a jam-packed festival. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2023 – BEC Arena, Manchester, 04/11/23 (Live Review)”
Tag: Laster
Laster – Andermans Mijne (Review)
Laster are a, (sort of), black metal band from the Netherlands and this is their fourth album.
It’s been a while since I’ve caught up with Laster. 2017’s Ons Vrije Fatum, to be precise, (with 2014’s De Verste Verte Is Hier and their 2016 split with Wederganger before that). Since then they’ve had another album, (and an EP), that I haven’t heard, but that apparently saw an increase in the avant-garde and experimental aspects of their sound. So what does Andermans Mijne present us with? Continue reading “Laster – Andermans Mijne (Review)”
Freja – Tides (Review)
This is the debut album from Freja, an atmospheric black metal band from the Netherlands.
Featuring a member of Laster, Tides contains 39 minutes of ethereal atmospheric black metal.
The music is layered with emotive Continue reading “Freja – Tides (Review)”
Silver Knife – Unyielding/Unseeing (Review)
Silver Knife are an international post-black metal band and this is their debut album.
Featuring members of bands such as Cult of Erinyes and Laster, Silver Knife have produced 42 minutes of harsh, mood-driven black metal. Continue reading “Silver Knife – Unyielding/Unseeing (Review)”
Laster – Ons Vrije Fatum (Review)
Laster are a black metal band from the Netherlands and this is their second album.
We’ve met Laster before, both on their debut album De Verste Verte Is Hier and on their split with Wederganger. Both times they’ve impressed with their atmospheric black metal, and this continues with their newest release. Continue reading “Laster – Ons Vrije Fatum (Review)”
Wederganger/Laster – Split (Review)
Wederganger and Laster both play black metal and are both from the Netherlands. They have teamed up for this very tasty split.
Wederganger contribute one song, Klaroenen Van de Dood, lasting almost 15 minutes. They’ve been featured on this site before with their début album Halfvergaan Ontwaakt, which was an enjoyable listen that fused orthodox black metal with epic, folk influences.
On this split the band show their predilection for Darkthrone/Satyricon-styled grooves Continue reading “Wederganger/Laster – Split (Review)”
Laster – De Verste Verte Is Hier (Review)
Laster are from the Netherlands and this is their début album.
I’m a fan of Laster’s first release Wijsgeer & Narreman so was looking forward to hearing this. The quality album cover was the first thing I liked, and the music soon followed.
Laster play raw, underground, atmospheric Black Metal that’s epic in length and epic in scope.
The band seem to play from beneath a shroud of distortion and hazy guitar fog. The drums and vocals swim just beneath the surface, prowling like unnatural predators seeking the souls of the weary and weak.
De Verste Verte Is Hier is less about individual riffs and more about dark feelings evoked by the instruments that howl and gust like the wind. Laster create dark sonicscapes of reverberating nightmares and ever-present darkness.
Atmosphere is a big part of Laster’s identity and they wield it like a weapon. Desolation, despair and negativity are commonplace, but less common are the little rays of hope that occasionally pierce the gloom, such as on the main starting riff of Tot de Tocht ons Verlicht.
These are not songs to idly listen to, these are songs to experience.
For fans of bands like Vinterriket, Fell Voices, Ash Borer and the like.
Wonderbox Metal 