Midnight Odyssey – Wonderbox Metal

Serpent Ascending, Ôros Kaù, Swords of Dis, and Midnight Odyssey – From the Waters of Death – Split (Review)

Serpent Ascending, Ôros Kaù, Swords of Dis, and Midnight Odyssey have joined together to produce an epic split album.

Now here’s an interesting and unusual release. This massive split is a collaborative concept album aimed at providing a contemporary retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh. From the Waters of Death brings together an array of atypical talent from the exceptional I, Voidhanger roster, and is something you should definitely be paying attention to if Continue reading “Serpent Ascending, Ôros Kaù, Swords of Dis, and Midnight Odyssey – From the Waters of Death – Split (Review)”

Blut Aus Nord – Ethereal Horizons (Review)

This is the sixteenth album from Blut Aus Nord, a French black metal band.

Following on from 2023’s Disharmonium – Nahab comes Ethereal Horizons, a 52-minute work of expansive, exquisite black metal artistry. Yep, this one’s pretty damn good. Continue reading “Blut Aus Nord – Ethereal Horizons (Review)”

Starer – Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness (Review)

This is the fourth album from Starer, a one-man black metal band from the US.

Since appearing out of nowhere with the wonderful 18° Below the Horizon in 2021, the artist behind Starer has been busy. We’ve had two subsequent full lengths, (2022’s The What It Is to Be and 2023’s Wind, Breeze, or Breath), and a plethora of other smaller releases. he’s now back with the 49-minute Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness, and it’s a cracking record. Continue reading “Starer – Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness (Review)”

Esoctrilihum – Ghostigmatah – Spiritual Rites of the Psychopomp Abxulöm (Review)

This is the twelfth album from French one-man black metal band Esoctrilihum.

It’s always a pleasure to get a new Esoctrilihum release. If you’re familiar with the artist’s past work, (such as 2018’s Pandaemorthium (Forbidden Formulas to Awaken the Blind Sovereigns of Nothingness), 2021’s Dy’th Requiem for the Serpent Telepath, 2022’s Consecration of the Spiritüs Flesh, 2023’s Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac, or 2024’s Döth-Dernyàlh), you’ll know that you never quite know quite what to expect from this prolific and idiosyncratic artist. What does the 87-minute Ghostigmatah – Spiritual Rites of the Psychopomp Abxulöm have in store for us? Continue reading “Esoctrilihum – Ghostigmatah – Spiritual Rites of the Psychopomp Abxulöm (Review)”

Pestilential Shadows – Wretch (Review)

This is the eighth album from Australian black metal band Pestilential Shadows.

For such a long-running band this is my first encounter with Pestilential Shadows. Wretch caught my eye though, with its 48 minutes of material that satisfies my taste for all things old-school black metal. Continue reading “Pestilential Shadows – Wretch (Review)”

Aeon Winds – An Ode to the Mountains (Review)

This is the fourth album from Slovakian black metal band Aeon Winds.

An Ode to the Mountains contains 60 minutes, (with bonus track), of symphonic black metal. Aeon Winds play in the older style, recalling bands such as Aquilus, Emperor, Limbonic Art, and Midnight Odyssey. Continue reading “Aeon Winds – An Ode to the Mountains (Review)”

Esoctrilihum – Döth-Dernyàlh (Review)

This is the eleventh album from French one-man black metal band Esoctrilihum.

Over the years I’ve developed a real fondness for the creative blackened output of this prolific artist. 2018’s Pandaemorthium (Forbidden Formulas to Awaken the Blind Sovereigns of Nothingness) started my journey, 2021’s Dy’th Requiem for the Serpent Telepath really made a mark, 2022’s Consecration of the Spiritüs Flesh was harsh and unforgiving, and then last year’s monster triple album Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac was far more enthralling than anything as long as that had any right to be. Of course, then there’s also the rest of the Esoctrilihum’s discography too, which I haven’t reviewed. For now though, we have the colossal 80-minute Döth-Dernyàlh. Continue reading “Esoctrilihum – Döth-Dernyàlh (Review)”

Belore – Eastern Tales (Review)

Belore are a French black metal band and this is their third album.

Belore play atmospheric/folk black metal, and on Eastern Tales they offer up 43 minutes of music. The material seems to swell out of nothingness to build massive soundscapes that lift the listener up and out of the real world, into the realms of fantasy and history. Continue reading “Belore – Eastern Tales (Review)”

SIG:AR:TYR – Citadel of Stars (Review)

This is the fifth album from Canadian black metal band SIG:AR:TYR.

The promo blurb tells us that Citadel of Stars is for fans of Bathory, Primordial, Falkenbach, Emperor, and Agalloch. This sets the scene nicely for what SIG:AR:TYR have to offer, and should also hopefully speak to how accomplished this album is too. Continue reading “SIG:AR:TYR – Citadel of Stars (Review)”

Etoile Filante – Mare Tranquillitatis (Review)

Etoile Filante are a French black metal band and this is their second album.

Mare Tranquillitas has a duration of 40 minutes and showcases Etoile Filante’s brand of ambient/atmospheric black metal. Continue reading “Etoile Filante – Mare Tranquillitatis (Review)”