This is the third album from one man French black metal band Sühnopfer.
After 2014’s very enjoyable Offertoire, Hic Regnant Borbonii Manes provides us with 52 minutes of new material that tears into the airwaves with streaks of melodic colour and a frenzied heart of darkness. This is misanthropic, furiously melodic black metal with a Medieval feel and theme, propelled by rage and very aggressive screams. Continue reading
Mavradoxa are an atmospheric black metal band from the US and this is their third album.
Afer enjoying 2017’s memorable Lethean Lament, Mavradoxa have now returned with a shorter album, (43 minutes vs its predecessor’s 62 minutes), that sees them focused, lean, and firing on all cylinders. Continue reading
Blyh are a German black metal band and this is their second album.
Awake to Emptiness is 45 minutes of raw, melodic black metal, spread out over five lengthy tracks. Continue reading
This is the debut album from Aethyrick, a Finnish black metal band.
Praxis features 39 minutes of occult black metal, and I have to say this is quite a captivating underground gem of an album. Continue reading
Wormwitch are a Canadian black metal band and this is their second album.
Heaven That Dwells Within features 46 minutes of black metal that’s accessible, catchy, and memorable, while still retaining underground aesthetics, dark atmospheres, and grim intent. Continue reading
Thron are a German melodic black metal band and this is their second album.
Thron play professionally-recorded black metal influenced by the second wave, with bands such as Dissection, Dimmu Borgir, Naglfar, Necrophobic, and Marduk worthy of mention as decent starting points for Abysmal. Continue reading
Vihamieli are a Finnish black metal band and this is their second album.
Hymns of Deity is the follow up to 2017’s Kuolevain Veri Uinuu Ikuisuuteen, which was an enjoyable trip into traditional second wave waters. Continue reading
Oubliette are a melodic black metal band from the US and this is their second album.
As well as featuring members of bands such as Enfold Darkness and Inferi, Oubliette also have a member of the always impressive Battle Path in their ranks. Oubliette are a somewhat different proposition than the expansive post-metal of the guitarist’s other band, however. Continue reading
This is the third album from Australian black metallers Mesarthim.
2016’s .- -… … . -. -.-. . was an album I really enjoyed, so this new full-length is very gratefully received. The Density Parameter, however, is something else entirely. Continue reading
This is the debut EP from Swedish black metal band Blood Worship.
Here we have 21 minutes of cold, venomous black metal. The promo blurb says that it’s for fans of Dissection, Naglfar, Marduk, and Satyricon, and it’s hard to disagree with that assessment. I’d also throw in a bit of A Grand Declaration of War-era Mayhem regarding some of the band’s riffs too, although this is largely a more minor aspect of their sound. Continue reading
