Gaerea – Coma (Review)

Gaerea - ComaThis is the fourth album from Portuguese black metallers Gaerea.

Ever since I first heard 2018’s Unsettling Whispers Gaerea have stood out to me as something pretty special. In 2020 Limbo solidified this opinion, and then in 2022 Mirage cemented this further. In fact, my appreciation of Mirage has only increased since catching the band’s transcendental live experience at this year’s fantastic Fortress Festival. I have high hopes for Coma. Continue reading “Gaerea – Coma (Review)”

Wolves’ Winter – The Medivm (Review)

Wolves' Winter - The MedivmWolves’ Winter are an Argentinian black metal band and this is their second album.

The Medivm contains 40 minutes of occult black metal. Wolves’ Winter’s music is melodic black metal that’s swathed in occult mists and arcane auras. The Medivm is an album that’s easy to enjoy if you’re a fan of the style, as Wolves’ Winter know what they’re doing. Continue reading “Wolves’ Winter – The Medivm (Review)”

Ars Veneficium – The Lurking Shadow of Death (Review)

Ars Veneficium - The Lurking Shadow of DeathThis is the third album from Ars Veneficium, a black metal band from Belgium.

Following on from 2016’s enjoyable The Reign of the Infernal King and 2020’s Usurpation of the Seven comes The Lurking Shadow of Death; 40 minutes of new material from the mighty Ars Veneficium. Continue reading “Ars Veneficium – The Lurking Shadow of Death (Review)”

Amiensus – Reclamation Pt. II (Review)

Amiensus - Reclamation Pt. IIThis is the fifth album from US black metallers Amiensus.

We’re being treated. This is the second Amiensus album of the year; the second part of Reclamation: Part 1 that we saw back in April. The first instalment was a progressive black metal feast that focused on atmospheric depth. What do the 38 minutes of Reclamation Pt. II have to offer us then? Continue reading “Amiensus – Reclamation Pt. II (Review)”

Servant – Death Devil Magick (Review)

Servant - Death Devil MagickThis is the third album from German black metal band Servant.

Following on fast from last year’s Aetus Ascensus comes Death Devil Magick, bringing us 41 minutes of new material. Servant’s style is intact and well, delivering a richly melodic form of black metal that’s based on the 90s second wave, but shows a post-black metal influence in places. Continue reading “Servant – Death Devil Magick (Review)”

Kanonenfieber – Die Urkatastrophe (Review)

Kanonenfieber - Die UrkatastropheThis is the second album from German solo black/death metal act Kanonenfieber.

Brought to us by the artist behind Leiþa and Non Est Deus, Die Urkatastrophe unleashes 53 minutes of fierce black/death metal. The artist behind Kanonenfieber has cemented once again why many people rate his output so highly. Continue reading “Kanonenfieber – Die Urkatastrophe (Review)”

Groza – Nadir (Review)

Groza - NadirGroza are a black metal band from Germany and this is their third album.

I’ve been hearing good things about Groza for a while now, but this is the first time I’ve had a chance to check them out. Nadir brings us 43 minutes of modern black metal, and it’s all very good, let me tell you. Continue reading “Groza – Nadir (Review)”

Typhonian – The Gate of the Veiled Beyond (Review)

Typhonian - The Gate of the Veiled BeyondTyphonian are a German death metal band and this is their second album.

The Gate of the Veiled Beyond contains 50 minutes of old-school death metal, but of a non-standard variety. It’s rooted firmly in 90s waters, but has also been expanded with blackened, atmospheric, and progressive influences; Typhonian may look backwards for inspiration, but they also look to the future with what they do with it. Continue reading “Typhonian – The Gate of the Veiled Beyond (Review)”

Aethyrick – Death Is Absent (Review)

Aethyrick - Death Is AbsentThis is the fifth album from Finnish black metallers Aethyrick.

I always have time for Aethyrick’s brand of black metal, so it’s great to have some new material from them in the form of the 43-minute Death Is Absent. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, then as well as this new album it’s also worth checking out 2018’s Praxis, 2020’s Gnosis, 2021’s Apotheosis, and 2022’s Pilgrimage. Aethyrick may have only been around since 2016, but they’re quite prolific. Continue reading “Aethyrick – Death Is Absent (Review)”

Modern Rites – Endless (Review)

Modern Rites - EndlessThis is the second album from Modern Rites, a Swiss/US black metal band.

Endless is the follow up to 2021’s Monuments and contains 41 minuets of new music from Modern Rites, (who are made up  of members of Aara and Kuyashii). It’s a wonderfully realised expression of aggressively bleak blackened darkness. Continue reading “Modern Rites – Endless (Review)”