Sluagh – II (Review)

Sluagh - IIThis is the debut album from UK black metal band Sluagh.

Brought to us by current/ex-members of Ageless Summoning, Barshasketh, and Dvne, (and many others), II contains 41 minutes of atmospheric black metal, played with old-school authenticity and heart. It’s raw and unashamedly ancient, driven by a love of the traditional black metal style as seen through a contemporary Scottish-focused lens. Continue reading “Sluagh – II (Review)”

Order of Nosferat – Towards the Nightrealm of Orlok (Review)

Order of Nosferat - Towards the Nightrealm of OrlokThis is the sixth album from international, (Germany/Finland), black metal band Order of Nosferat.

I’ve had a soft spot for Order of Nosferat since discovering their vampiric brand of black metal on their 2023 split with Lunar Spells, which this year’s The Absence of Grace just reinforced. Yes, this is the band’s second full length of 2024, and across these 45 minutes Order of Nosferat have produced another corker of an album. Get ready for the second wave furious majesty of Towards the Nightrealm of Orlok! Continue reading “Order of Nosferat – Towards the Nightrealm of Orlok (Review)”

Heathen Deity – Satan’s Kingdom (Review)

Heathen Deity - Satan's KingdomThis is the second album from UK black metallers Heathen Deity.

Brought to us by current and ex-members of Hecate Enthroned, Helvellyn, Nefarious Dusk, and SkiddawSatan’s Kingdom contains 59 minutes of old-school Satanic black metal, although of a more expressive and higher quality than you typically find in the wild. Continue reading “Heathen Deity – Satan’s Kingdom (Review)”

Pestilent Hex – Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow (Review)

Pestilent Hex - Sorceries of Sanguine & ShadowPestilent Hex are a black metal band from Finland and this is their second album.

After 2022’s enjoyable The Ashen Abhorrence, Pestilent Hex have now returned with the 46-minute Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow. Continue reading “Pestilent Hex – Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow (Review)”

Burial – Rejoice in Sin (Review)

Burial - Rejoice in SinThis is the fourth album from UK black metallers Burial.

I haven’t caught up with Burial since their 2016 album Unholy Sedition, so it is high time I did once more. Featuring in their ranks members of Cairns, Foetal Juice, and Wolfbastard, Burial know what they’re doing with their music, and Rejoice in Sin delivers 40 minutes of raw iciness for the listener to get frozen by. Continue reading “Burial – Rejoice in Sin (Review)”

Paysage D’Hiver – Die Berge (Review)

Paysage D'Hiver - Die BergeThis is the third album from Swiss black metal solo band Paysage D’Hiver.

Die Berge contains a colossal 103 minutes of atmospheric/ambient black metal for the listener to feast upon greedily. The artist behind Paysage D’Hiver has created an album to fall deeply into, never to return. Continue reading “Paysage D’Hiver – Die Berge (Review)”

From the Vastland – Tenebrous Shadow (Review)

From the Vastland - Tenebrous ShadowFrom the Vastland are an Iranian/Norwegian black metal band and this is their eighth album.

I enjoy catching up with From the Vastland’s brand of black metal. I’ve liked all of their albums I’ve heard so far, (2016’s Chamrosh, 2018’s Daevayasna, and 2020’s The Haft Khan, (I managed to miss their 2022 record Taurvi, which I’ve only just found out even existed), so I didn’t expect Tenebrous Shadow to break this trend. Continue reading “From the Vastland – Tenebrous Shadow (Review)”

1349 – The Wolf and the King (Review)

1349 - The Wolf and the KingThis is the eighth album from Norwegian black metallers 1349.

1349 boast current/ex-members of Gorgoroth, Keep of Kalessin, Mortem, and Satyricon in their ranks, and they provide us with 39 minutes of Norwegian black metal in the form of The Wolf and the King. Continue reading “1349 – The Wolf and the King (Review)”

Servant – Death Devil Magick (Review)

Servant - Death Devil MagickThis is the third album from German black metal band Servant.

Following on fast from last year’s Aetus Ascensus comes Death Devil Magick, bringing us 41 minutes of new material. Servant’s style is intact and well, delivering a richly melodic form of black metal that’s based on the 90s second wave, but shows a post-black metal influence in places. Continue reading “Servant – Death Devil Magick (Review)”

Wormwitch – Wormwitch (Review)

Wormwitch - WormwitchThis is the fourth album from Canadian black metallers Wormwitch.

New Wormwitch! I’m a bit behind on this one, but I couldn’t let it pass me by. Whether it’s 2019’s Heaven That Dwells Within, 2021’s Wolf Hex, or this year’s split with Sadistic Ritual, Wormwitch always deliver the goods. Continue reading “Wormwitch – Wormwitch (Review)”