This is the second album from Greek black metallers Isolert.
Isolert specialise in Scandinavian-style second wave black metal, and I like the way they play it. Thus far, 2015’s Isolated Soul, 2016’s No Hope, No Light…Only Death, and 2017’s Towards the Great Dissolution, (a split with Insanity Cult), all satisfied, and now the band are back Continue reading
This is the third album from German black metallers Beltez.
Following on from 2017’s well-regarded Exiled, Punished…Rejected, A Grey Chill and a Whisper is well-received and quite exceptional. Across 65 minutes Beltez brutalise and mystify with a compelling tale of darkness and despair, but with some glimmers of hope. Continue reading
This is the fifth album from French black metallers Darkenhöld.
We last caught up with Darkenhöld on 2014’s Castellum, although the band haven’t been doing nothing in the past six years; they’ve had an another album and a split release with Griffon since then. Darkenhöld specialise in old-school Continue reading
Antzaat 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
This is the second album from French black metallers Griffon.
Griffon give us a very agreeable and enjoyable take on medieval-influenced black metal. Across 40 minutes, ὸ θεός ὸ βασιλεύς, (or o Theos, o Basileus), proves to be aggressively melodic and energetic, but not without atmosphere or depth. Continue reading
Bihargam are a black metal band from the US and this is their second album.
Featuring members of the mighty Fornicus, and playing the sort of moreish melodic black metal that hits the spot nicely, enjoying Ove Tenebrae was pretty much a given. Continue reading
This is the debut album from French one-man black metal act Crépuscule d’Hiver.
Par-Delà Noireglaces et Brumes-Sinistres contains 69 minutes of music that combines atmospheric black metal with dungeon synth, creating an engaging journey into medieval times for the listener to become immersed in. Continue reading
Hræ is a one-man Icelandic black metal band and this is his debut album.
Hræ’s brand of black metal is dark and menacing, with an experimental edge that reeks of dissonant malevolence. Continue reading
Ancient Gate are an Argentinian black metal band and this is their second album.
Now here’s an album that really reminds me of the 90s. Yep, this is raw, underground, second wave worship through-and-through, and if you’re a fan of the style that’s no bad thing. Continue reading
This is the debut album from Finnish black metallers Väki.
Kuolleen Maan Omaksi mixes old and new black metal styles together to create an album that draws from both to weave its dark magicks. The end result is a modern interpretation of blackened extremity, one which ably demonstrates a band with a lot of potential. Continue reading
