This is the debut album from Triste Terre, an atmospheric black metal band from France.
Grand Œuvre is a 65-minute journey into the occult darkness. It’s an album that doesn’t shy away from grand ambition and compelling atmosphere, using these traits to its advantage to craft epic soundscapes that are immersive and quite satisfying. Continue reading
Kaleikr are an Icelandic black/death metal band and this is their debut album.
This is black metal that’s progressive and emotive. Heart of Lead is an album that you can almost visibly see change as it develops and unfolds. As it runs through its playing time, Kaleikr’s music becomes increasingly darker and more unhinged. Continue reading
Barshasketh are a black metal band from New Zealand/the UK and this is their fourth album.
My past encounters with Barshasketh have always been very positive, (see their split with Void Ritual and split with Outre), but this is my first exposure to a full length from the band.
Well, I enjoyed the band’s previous work that I’ve heard, but this is something else. Continue reading
This is the debut album from Embra, a black/death metal band from the US.
Here we have a very tasty and impressive slice of modern atmospheric black metal, shot through with dark death metal influences for added bite. Continue reading
This is the debut album from Hungarian black metal band Hænesy.
Now this is the stuff. Katruzsa is a nature-inspired atmospheric black metal album with some post-black metal qualities. Underground and raw, with a sonic aesthetic that definitely pleases, this is textured black metal replete with affecting melodies and plenty of atmospheric depth. Continue reading
Craft are a Swedish black metal band and this is their fifth album.
Although the album title might suggest a combination of blistering black metal and heartless noise assaults, it’s actually 42 minutes of the former rather than the latter. Of course, this is no bad thing. Continue reading
This is the fourth album from Moonreich, a French black metal band.
Fugue is a broad-ranging and multifaceted journey into black metal waters, with the band revealing themselves to be quite expressive and creative across the album’s 54 minutes. Continue reading
Gaerea are a Portuguese black metal band and this is their debut album.
On Unsettling Whispers Gaerea have crafted 42 minutes of black metal that’s distinctly non-standard and in many ways is quite…unsettling. Continue reading
Agrona are a UK black metal band and this is their debut album.
Containing 47 minutes of black metal that effectively combines both scathing brutality and grim atmosphere, this as a well-rounded and well-written album that demonstrates a talented and passionate band who are clearly doing what they love. Continue reading
This is the fourth album from US black metallers Wolvhammer.
This is the much-awaited follow-up to 2014’s Clawing into Black Sun, which was one of my favourite releases of that year. To say I’ve been looking forward to this album is an understatement. Continue reading
