This is the latest EP from UK black metallers Ninkharsag.
This has been a long time coming. In a similar way to the recent Abduction album Existentialismus, I saw Ninkharsag play songs from this release live back in February 2024, but it’s only now seeing the light of day. Has it been worth the wait to hear Ninkharsag’s brand of melodic black metal once more? Continue reading “Ninkharsag – The Black Swords of Winter (Review)”
This is the third album from Swedish black metal solo act Kvaen.
The name Kvaen hit the black metal underground hard with 2020’s The Funeral Pyre, and then followed this up in 2022 with The Great Below, which showed that the quality of the debut was no fluke. Another two years have passed, and now we have The Formless Fires. Do the 39 minutes of new music here still demonstrate a continuation of these quality levels? Continue reading “Kvaen – The Formless Fires (Review)”
Thron are a black metal band from Germany and this is their fourth album.
Now boasting the drummer of the mighty Aara in their ranks, Dust contains 55 minutes of accomplished black metal. I haven’t caught up with the band since 2018’s Abysmal, so it’s good to hear what they’re up to once more, and I have not been disappointed. Quite the opposite, in fact. Continue reading “Thron – Dust (Review)”
This is the third album, (or their fourth, if you include 2017’s covers album), from Frozen Dawn, a Spanish black metal band.
The Decline of the Enlightened Gods is the follow up to 2014’s Those of the Cursed Light, and contains 50 minutes of melodic black metal, (which includes a Necrophobic cover). Delivering a Continue reading “Frozen Dawn – The Decline of the Enlightened Gods (Review)”
This is the debut album from French black metal band Houle.
Delivering 29 minutes of sharp modern black metal, Houle is an album full of melody, atmosphere, and flowing violence. Continue reading “Houle – Houle (Review)”
This is the debut album from Belgian black metal band Darkest Mind.
Oracle of Death saw the light of day at the end of last year, and I confess that I overlooked it largely due to its cover. Not that it’s bad artwork by any means, but the bright colours didn’t inspire me to check it out. My loss. Having now had the album brough to my attention once more, Continue reading “Darkest Mind – Oracle of Death (Review)”
Unflesh are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.
Described in the promo blurb as blackened melodic death metal, and noted as for fans of Arsis, Dissection, Emperor, Necrophagist, Necrophobic, Naglfar, Tribulation, Obscura, and Revocation, I confess I was hooked; I had to check out Inhumation. Continue reading “Unflesh – Inhumation (Review)”
This is the debut album from Khôra, a black metal band.
Featuring a member of Dødheimsgard, and so many guests it’s quite remarkable, (mainly on vocals or keyboards, and from bands such as …And Oceans, Amiensus, Dødheimsgard, Finntroll, Nòtt, and Moonsorrow), a lot of talent and experience has gone into Timaeus. Continue reading “Khôra – Timaeus (Review)”
Thron are a German melodic black metal band and this is their second album.
Thron play professionally-recorded black metal influenced by the second wave, with bands such as Dissection, Dimmu Borgir, Naglfar, Necrophobic, and Marduk worthy of mention as decent starting points for Abysmal. Continue reading “Thron – Abysmal (Review)”
This is the debut EP from Swedish black metal band Blood Worship.
Here we have 21 minutes of cold, venomous black metal. The promo blurb says that it’s for fans of Dissection, Naglfar, Marduk, and Satyricon, and it’s hard to disagree with that assessment. I’d also throw in a bit of A Grand Declaration of War-era Mayhem regarding some of the band’s riffs too, although this is largely a more minor aspect of their sound. Continue reading “Blood Worship – Death’s Omnipotence (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 