Gurthang – Ascension (Review)

Gurthang - AscensionGurthang are a Polish black metal band and this is their sixth album.

Ascension contains 57 minutes of textured black metal modelled on the second wave, but mixed with some more modern influences and enhanced with doom elements in places. Continue reading “Gurthang – Ascension (Review)”

Salvaticus – Ordo Naturalis (Review)

Salvaticus - Ordo NaturalisThis is the second album from US black metallers Salvaticus.

2014 seems quite long ago, but that was when the very enjoyable Hidden Manna was released. I really, really liked that record, and it even made my end of year list for that year. Over five years later, the band have now returned with Ordo Naturalis, and it seems they have been busy. Continue reading “Salvaticus – Ordo Naturalis (Review)”

Yellow Eyes – Rare Field Ceiling (Review)

Yellow Eyes - Rare Field CeilingThis is the fifth album from Yellow Eyes, a black metal band from the US.

Yellow Eyes play modern black metal, raw and underground. Theirs is a bleakly charismatic form of blackened expression, one which provides the listener with many facets to explore throughout its 46-minute playing time. Continue reading “Yellow Eyes – Rare Field Ceiling (Review)”

Itheist – Itheist (Review)

Itheist - ItheistItheist are a UK black/death metal band and this is their debut album.

Previously named Aetherium Mors, this is the band’s first release under its new moniker. This is modern, dissonant black metal that’s been hybridised with death metal and energised with melodic darkness. Continue reading “Itheist – Itheist (Review)”

Sidious – Temporal (Review)

Sidious - TemporalThis is the second album by Sidious, a UK black metal band.

Sidious made a strong impression on me with their debut album Revealed in Profane Splendour, and now that it’s finally time to get some new material from them, they have changed almost completely. Now I’ve heard their new album, I’m actually somewhat surprised Continue reading “Sidious – Temporal (Review)”

God’s Bastard – Last Standing Village (Review)

God's Bastard - Last Standing VillageGod’s Bastard are a black metal band from the US and this is their debut EP.

Whatever happened to Floods, I hear you ask? Well, the answer, partly at least, is that their former guitarist/vocalist ended up joining forces with the drummer of Krallice/Woe to produce this rather fine new project. Continue reading “God’s Bastard – Last Standing Village (Review)”

Blyh – Awake to Emptiness (Review)

Blyh - Awake to EmptinessBlyh are a German black metal band and this is their second album.

Awake to Emptiness is 45 minutes of raw, melodic black metal, spread out over five lengthy tracks. Continue reading “Blyh – Awake to Emptiness (Review)”

Mord’A’Stigmata – Dreams of Quiet Places (Review)

Mord'A'Stigmata - Dreams of Quiet PlacesMord’A’Stigmata are a post-black metal band from Poland and this is their fifth album.

After 2013’s Ansia and 2017’s Hope, I’m a firm fan of what this band produce, and Dreams of Quiet Places is their latest masterpiece. I don’t use that word lightly either. Continue reading “Mord’A’Stigmata – Dreams of Quiet Places (Review)”

Triste Terre – Grand Œuvre (Review)

Triste Terre - Grand ŒuvreThis 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 “Triste Terre – Grand Œuvre (Review)”

Kaleikr – Heart of Lead (Review)

kaleikr - heart of leadKaleikr 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 “Kaleikr – Heart of Lead (Review)”