Asgrauw – IJsval (Review)

Asgrauw - IJsvalThis is the fourth album from Asgrauw, a black metal band from the Netherlands.

Previous full-length Gronspech was an enjoyable album that appealed to the old-school black metal fanbase, and new album IJsval continues in this same vein, with 38 minutes of biting blackened material. Continue reading “Asgrauw – IJsval (Review)”

Israthoum – Arrows from Below (Review)

Israthoum - Arrows from BelowThis is the fourth album from black metallers Israthoum, who are from the Netherlands, (although Portugal originally).

I enjoy Israthoum’s work, and urge you to also check out Black Poison and Shared Wounds, Antru Kald, and Channeling Death and Evil. This new album gives us 31 minutes of darkness, and finds Israthoum’s orthodox take on the style to still be hugely enjoyable. Continue reading “Israthoum – Arrows from Below (Review)”

Avslut – Tyranni (Review)

Avslut - TyranniThis is the second album from Swedish black metallers Avslut.

Hot on the heels of last year’s Deceptis now comes Tyranni, with 47 minutes of cold fury. This is black metal of the old-school Swedish variety; vicious and evil. Continue reading “Avslut – Tyranni (Review)”

Mara – RÖK (Review)

Mara - RÖKMara is a Swedish one man black metal band and this is his third album.

Sometimes you just need a hit of the black stuff, and RÖK offers 36 minutes of the darkness you need. Spread across 5 tracks, this is cold black metal played as if it was still the 90s. Continue reading “Mara – RÖK (Review)”

Runespell – Voice of Opprobrium (Review)

Runespell - Voice of OpprobriumRunespell is a solo black metal band from Australia, and this is his third album.

I’ve enjoyed both Unhallowed Blood Oath and Order of Vengeance, and now this new album, hot on the heels of the previous one, has arrived to sate my never-ending thirst for black metal. Continue reading “Runespell – Voice of Opprobrium (Review)”

Geistaz’ika – Trolddomssejd i Skovens Dybe Kedel (Review)

Geistaz'ika - Trolddomsejd i Skovens Dybe KedelGeistaz’ika are a black metal band from Denmark and this is their debut album.

Originally released at the end of 2018, Trolddomssejd i Skovens Dybe Kedel is now getting a new lease of life via Signal Rex. I can see why, as Geistaz’ika’s music is both enjoyable and satisfying. Continue reading “Geistaz’ika – Trolddomssejd i Skovens Dybe Kedel (Review)”

Ringarë – Under Pale Moon (Review)

Ringarë - Under Pale MoonThis is the debut album from US black metal band Ringarë.

Featuring a member of Chaos Moon, this project was originally named Ringar and in its original incarnation warped into Chaos Moon itself. Continue reading “Ringarë – Under Pale Moon (Review)”

Ondfødt – Dödsrikets Kallelse (Review)

ondfødt - dödsrikets kallelseOndfødt are a Finnish black metal band and this is their second album.

We’ve met Ondfødt before on 2014’s Hexkonst, which I found to be quite an enjoyable blast of largely traditional rawness. Continue reading “Ondfødt – Dödsrikets Kallelse (Review)”

Asgrauw – Gronspech (Review)

AsgrauwAsgrauw are a black metal band from the Netherlands and this is their third album.

Carrying a torch for old-school Scandinavian second wave black metal through a forest at night, Asgrauw have delivered an album that really does make me nostalgic for the 90s. The music on Gronspech speaks to me in a very specific, occult-tinged way that only this kind of music can. Continue reading “Asgrauw – Gronspech (Review)”