Wampyric Rites and Moloch are both black metal bands, from Ecuador and Ukraine, respectively.
Ever since encountering Wampyric Rites on their 2022 album The Wolves Howl to the Moon, I’ve been smitten, so when this split appeared I knew I wanted to hear it. The band contribute two songs to The Serpent Cult of Darkness, with a combined total duration of 19 minutes. Continue reading “Wampyric Rites/Moloch – The Serpent Cult of Darkness – Split (Review)”
Morkera are a black metal band from Croatia and this is their second album.
Aggravations is a 36-minute album of modern black metal that’s beautifully harsh and aggressive, while still achieving a certain level of atmospheric darkness. Continue reading “Morkera – Aggravations (Review)”
Bell Witch are a funeral doom band from the US and this is their fourth album.
Following on from 2017’s now-classic Mirror Reaper, (by way of 2020’s collaboration with Aerial Ruin Stygian Bough: Volume I), Bell Witch have unleashed another giant work of funeral doom art. Continue reading “Bell Witch – Future’s Shadow Part 1: The Clandestine Gate (Review)”
Dratna is a solo black metal band from Northern Ireland and this is his second album.
I enjoyed 2020’s Druid Winds & the Fall of the Celtic Gods, but missed Dratna’s debut album, so Fomóraigh is the perfect opportunity for me to catch back up with the band. The 39 minutes of material on the album reveals a well-rounded and well-developed slice of atmospheric black metal. Continue reading “Dratna – Fomóraigh (Review)”
This is the third album from Canadian metalcore band Arrival of Autumn, (who feature a member of Alterbeast).
Containing 39 minutes of material Kingdom Undone is an easy album to like if you were raised on 00s metalcore, yet want a modern update. To be fair, Arrival of Autumn’s sound has more older components and influences than newer ones, but that seems to have worked out for the best as the band have impressed with a very enjoyable album. Continue reading “Arrival of Autumn – Kingdom Undone (Review)”
Phlebotomized are a progressive death metal band from the Netherlands and this is their fourth album.
Phlebotomized play a creative form of death metal that combines progressive structuring and ideas with melodic grace, technical skills, and moments of outright brutality. Across 47 minutes they craft a journey of texture and detail on an unconventional death metal canvas. Continue reading “Phlebotomized – Clouds of Confusion (Review)”
This is the tenth album from legendary Norwegian black metal band Immortal.
Whereas on 2018’s Northern Chaos Gods Immortal were a duo, on War Against All the band have now been slimmed down further to just one original member, and is now essentially a solo act, albeit with session musicians, (from Enslaved and Gaahls Wyrd). Continue reading “Immortal – War Against All (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Finnish black metal act Ondfødt.
I always enjoy catching up with Ondfødt. 2014’s Hexkonst, 2019’s Dödsrikets Kallelse, and 2021’s Norden are all records that I enjoyed, so it made sense for me to want to check out Det Österbottniska Mörkret too. I’ll say upfront that this has turned out to be Ondfødt’s most professional, accomplished, and enjoyable record. Continue reading “Ondfødt – Det Österbottniska Mörkret (Review)”
Kostnatění is a one-man black metal band from the US and this is his second album.
Containing 40 minutes of unconventional black metal, Úpal is an atypical release that merges different genres and sounds into a blackened whole. A clash of cold, harsh dissonance and vibrant, melodic folk influences from around the globe, Úpal is a record that’s striking and impactful. Continue reading “Kostnatění – Úpal (Review)”
Olkoth are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.
At the Eye of Chaos contains 35 minutes of furious death metal mastery. The promo blurb says this is for fans of Nile, Hate Eternal, Hideous Divinity, and Vitriol, so you know you’re not getting out of this unscathed. Continue reading “Olkoth – At the Eye of Chaos (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 