Blackbraid – Blackbraid II (Review)

Blackbraid - Blackbraid IIThis is the second album from black metal solo act Blackbraid.

Blackbraid I was a very enjoyable album, which showcased the work of a talented new artist. Now though we have the immense Blackbraid II to absorb ourselves in. With a length of 66 minutes,(which includes a Bathory cover), it’s almost double the duration of its predecessor, and reveals that Blackbraid’s debut was no one-hit wonder. Continue reading “Blackbraid – Blackbraid II (Review)”

Belial’s Throne – Forgotten Land of the Lost Souls (Review)

Belial's Throne - Forgotten Land of the Lost SoulsThis is the debut album from Irish/international black metallers Belial’s Throne.

Featuring the drummer of Coscradh, Forgotten Land of the Lost Souls contains 36 minutes of good quality second wave black metal. Continue reading “Belial’s Throne – Forgotten Land of the Lost Souls (Review)”

Weald and Woe – For the Good of the Realm (Review)

Weald and Woe - For the Good of the RealmThis is the second album from US black metallers Weald and Woe.

Weald and Woe play a medieval folk-influenced brand of melodic black metal. Across 37 minutes they craft an album of ancient atmosphere and blackened hooks. Continue reading “Weald and Woe – For the Good of the Realm (Review)”

Artist Deep Dive: Sworn (Review)

Discography Deep Dive SwornAfter recently discovering the Norwegian black metal band Sworn, and thoroughly enjoying their latest record A Journey Told Through Fire, I felt compelled to do a deep dive through their discography. I decided to document this as part of a new named feature on the site. I’m not sure how often I’ll get to do these, but when I can, I will, and I can already think of a few bands I’d love to thoroughly explore in this way. Before then though, we have Sworn. They have three albums other than their latest, and I’m going to concentrate just on these, (they also have a demo, an EP, and some singles to their name). Let’s dig in. Continue reading “Artist Deep Dive: Sworn (Review)”

Shadow Legion – Shadow Legion (Review)

Shadow Legion - Shadow LegionThis is the debut album from Shadow Legion, a progressive extreme metal band from the US.

Shadow Legion contains 68 minutes of music, and is brought to us by current/ex-members of bands such as Diabolic, Gigan, Hate Eternal, and Pyrrhon, among others. Continue reading “Shadow Legion – Shadow Legion (Review)”

Sworn – A Journey Told Through Fire (Review)

Sworn - A Journey Told Through FireSworn are a Norwegian black metal band and this is their fourth album.

If you’re a fan of black metal with both melody and atmosphere, then A Journey Told Through Fire is a 50-minute feast of the stuff. Honestly, Sworn have something well above average going on here that combines the best of old and new. Continue reading “Sworn – A Journey Told Through Fire (Review)”

Servant – Aetas Ascensus (Review)

Servant - Aetas AscensusThis is the second album from German black metal band Servant.

Aetas Ascensus contains 48 minutes of black metal played in the old-school Scandinavian way. Competent in both the melodic and symphonic styles, Servant’s music is effortless to enjoy if you’re a fan of the cold blackened arts. Continue reading “Servant – Aetas Ascensus (Review)”

Onheil – In Black Ashes (Review)

Onheil - In Black AshesOnheil are a black/death metal band from the Netherlands and this is their third album.

Now, here’s an album I’ve very much been looking forward to. I thoroughly enjoyed 2014’s Storm Is Coming, even more so over time, and was immensely happy to see that a follow up is finally here. Back now with some lineup changes, and playing an infectious form of melodic black/death metal, with an influence from thrash and heavy metal, In Black Ashes finds Onheil revitalised, and ready to conquer. Continue reading “Onheil – In Black Ashes (Review)”

Aodon – Portraits (Review)

Aodon - PortraitsThis is the third album from Aodon, a black metal band from France.

Portraits is the follow up to 2020’s 11069, and features 46 minutes of sleek, quality material. If you liked 11069, then Portraits is the upgraded version. Continue reading “Aodon – Portraits (Review)”

Necrofier – Burning Shadows in the Southern Night (Review)

Necrofier - Burning Shadows in the Southern NightThis is the second album from US black metallers Necrofier.

Following on from 2021’s Prophecies of Eternal Darkness, Burning Shadows in the Southern Night contains 47 minutes of melodic black metal with a classic heavy metal influence. Continue reading “Necrofier – Burning Shadows in the Southern Night (Review)”