Calligram are a UK-based international blackened metal band and this is their latest album.
Calligram adopt a modern approach to black metal on The Eye Is the First Circle, mixing it with elements of hardcore to produce a set of dark songs that pierce the listener deeply and won’t let go. Continue reading “Calligram – The Eye Is the First Circle (Review)”
This is the second album from Scáth Na Déithe, an Irish black/death metal band.
The Dirge of Endless Mourning contains 44 minutes of atmospheric black metal mixed with malignant death metal. It’s spiritually comparable in scope and breadth to the Cascadian style, but filtered through Irish folklore and history and has a brutal edge that comes from the death metal influences. The result is an album that pulls strengths from Continue reading “Scáth Na Déithe – The Dirge of Endless Mourning (Review)”
Voidfire are a black metal band from Poland and this is their debut album.
Voidfire play melodic black metal, doing so in an endearing and infectious way. This is music that has a heart of darkness, rather than a shiny, upbeat one. Some melodic metal is so smothered in ostentatious bright leads it can be off-putting, but Continue reading “Voidfire – Ogień Pustki (Review)”
This is the third album from French post-black metallers Regarde les Hommes Tomber.
Regarde les Hommes Tomber play post-black metal that takes a forward-thinking approach to its content. Blending in elements of sludge and minor aspects of death metal, the band’s music is an atmospheric and modern take on blackened art. Continue reading “Regarde les Hommes Tomber – Ascension (Review)”
This is the debut album from Mourir, a black metal band from France.
The music on Animal Bouffe Animal takes influence from the Scandinavian second wave, but then updates this with modern touches and uncomfortable dissonance, scathing sludge, and harrowing doom. The end result is 34 minutes of atmospheric rawness that combines old and new to produce something hideously enjoyable. Continue reading “Mourir – Animal Bouffe Animal (Review)”
This is the latest EP from Ihsahn, a legendary black, progressive, and experimental metal artist.
Containing 5 tracks, including two covers, (Iron Maiden and Lenny Kravitz), Ihsahn’s latest EP features 26 minutes showcasing the artist’s more aggressive side. Continue reading “Ihsahn – Telemark (Review)”
Blaze of Perdition are a Polish black metal band and this is their fifth album.
A new Blaze of Perdition album is always welcome, with both 2015’s Near Death Revelations and 2017’s Conscious Darkness setting high standards. Pleasingly, The Harrowing of Hearts doesn’t let the side down, and offers 51 minutes of quality material, including a Fields of the Nephilim cover that closes the album. Continue reading “Blaze of Perdition – The Harrowing of Hearts (Review)”
This is the second album from French black metallers Pénitence Onirique.
It seems like ages ago that V.I.T.R.I.O.L. came out, and it was 2016 I suppose. The record made an impression, so I’m pleased to now be presented with its successor Vestige; 53 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Pénitence Onirique – Vestige (Review)”
This is the second album from Finnish black metallers Aethyrick.
2018’s Praxis was an enjoyable slice of personable second wave darkness, bolstered by both personality and ability. It doesn’t seem like too long ago that it was released, so I was surprised to see a new album already. It seems the band are not content to rest on their laurels. Continue reading “Aethyrick – Gnosis (Review)”
Ossomancer is a black metal entity from the US and this is their debut album.
Ossomancer combine old and new, taking a base of second wave black metal and transporting it to the present day. Continue reading “Ossomancer – Artes Magickae (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 