Dødsengel – Bab Al On (Review)

Dødsengel - Bab Al OnThis is the fifth album from Norwegian black metal band Dødsengel.

I haven’t caught up with Dødsengel in a while, but enjoyed both their 2013 split with Nightbringer – Circumambulations of the Solar Inferno – and their 2017 album Interequinox, so when Bab Al On appeared with its very striking album art, I knew I wanted to explore that it had to offer. Continue reading “Dødsengel – Bab Al On (Review)”

Ad Noctem Funeriis – Abyss, Fire, Brimstones (Review)

Ad Noctem Funeriis - Abyss, Fire, BrimstonesThis is the third album from Italian black metallers Ad Noctem Funeriis.

Abyss, Fire, Brimstones contains 44 minutes of pure blackened aggression. Ad Noctem Funeriis play a stripped-back, focused version of black metal that derives its core from the dark heart of the second wave. Continue reading “Ad Noctem Funeriis – Abyss, Fire, Brimstones (Review)”

Thy Darkened Shade/Amestigon/Inconcessus Lux Lucis/Shaarimoth – SamaeLilith: A Conjunction of the Fireborn – Split (Review)

Thy Darkened Shade Amestigon Inconcessus Lux Lucis Shaarimoth - SamaeLilith A Conjunction of the Fireborn - SplitThis is a gargantuan four-way split, consisting of 15 tracks across a total duration of 96 minutes. Continue reading “Thy Darkened Shade/Amestigon/Inconcessus Lux Lucis/Shaarimoth – SamaeLilith: A Conjunction of the Fireborn – Split (Review)”

Antzaat – For You Men Who Gaze into the Sun (Review)

Antzaat - For You Men Who Gaze into the SunAntzaat are a Belgian black metal band and this is their debut album.

I derived a lot of enjoyment from 2017’s The Black Hand of the Father, which was a solid slice of second wave malice. We now turn to For You Men Who Gaze into the Sun, with its 45 minutes of distorted darkness. Continue reading “Antzaat – For You Men Who Gaze into the Sun (Review)”

Blaze of Perdition – The Harrowing of Hearts (Review)

Blaze of Perdition - The Harrowing of HeartsBlaze 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)”

Aethyrick – Gnosis (Review)

Aethyrick - GnosisThis 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)”

Asagraum – Dawn of Infinite Fire (Review)

Asagraum - Dawn of Infinite FireAsagraum are an international black metal band and this is their second album.

After 2017’s enjoyable Potestas Magicum Diaboli, Asagraum are now back with another 26 minutes of second wave black metal worship. Continue reading “Asagraum – Dawn of Infinite Fire (Review)”

Funeral Storm – Arcane Mysteries (Review)

Funeral Storm - Arcane MysteriesFuneral Storm are a Greek black metal band and this is their debut album.

Funeral Storm channel early second wave energies into 42 minutes of occult black metal. Yes, Rotting Christ are the obvious name to drop, but there’s also a Varathron cover here, which should give you further indication of the band’s influences. Continue reading “Funeral Storm – Arcane Mysteries (Review)”

Mephorash – Shem Ha Mephorash (Review)

Mephorash - Shem Ha MephorashThis is the fourth album from Swedish black metallers Mephorash.

Even after enjoying 2015’s 1557 – Rites of Nullification and getting a taste of the band’s new material on last year’s The Third Woe, I still wasn’t really prepared for this. Shem Ha Mephorash might surprise you by just how good it is, as it did me. Mephorash may not be a well-worn Continue reading “Mephorash – Shem Ha Mephorash (Review)”

Aethyrick – Praxis (Review)

Aethyrick - PraxisThis is the debut album from Aethyrick, a Finnish black metal band.

Praxis features 39 minutes of occult black metal, and I have to say this is quite a captivating underground gem of an album. Continue reading “Aethyrick – Praxis (Review)”