Fen are a UK black metal band and this is their eighth album.
Following on from 2023’s Monuments to Absence, Fen have now returned with 47 minutes of new material in the form of Elemental Part One: Mourning Earth. As the name might suggest, this is the first part of two. Continue reading “Fen – Elemental Part One: Mourning Earth (Review)”
This is the debut album from UK black metal band Cairiss.
A decade after 2016’s EP Fall comes its long-awaited follow up Wilderness. Fall was a notably strong first release, one that excelled in its own right, but that also dripped in potential for the future. Sadly, nothing ever came of it. Until now. With 42 minutes of new material from Cairiss, and a refreshed lineup, can Wilderness satisfy the probably unfairly high expectations put upon it? Continue reading “Cairiss – Wilderness (Review)”
This is the third album from Canadian black metallers Miserere Luminis.
Miserere Luminis contain members of Conifère and Gris, and on Sidera they bring us 51 minutes of highly affecting atmospheric black metal. This is an uncommon journey that’s presented before you. Will you avail yourself of the gifts that Sidera has to offer? Continue reading “Miserere Luminis – Sidera (Review)”
This is the fourth album from The Fifth Alliance, a post-metal band from the Netherlands.
Having graced us with Death Poems in 2015 and then The Depth of the Darkness in 2019, The Fifth Alliance have returned once again, after what seems like an age, with the 38-minute Stenahoria. Armed with a new drummer and a new vocalist, The Fifth Alliance have been reborn in darkness. Continue reading “The Fifth Alliance – Stenahoria (Review)”
This is the twelfth album from US solo black metal act Panopticon.
Brought to us by a singular artist’s vision, but aided and bolstered by multiple guest collaborators, Det Hjemsøkte Hjertet is a 66-minute exploration of sound that offers up an unmissable experience. Panopticon‘s new record is remarkable. Continue reading “Panopticon – Det Hjemsøkte Hjertet (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Indonesian one-man black metal band Pure Wrath.
Bleak Days Ahead is the 41-minute folow up to 2022’s well-received Hymn to the Woeful Hearts. The artist behind Pure Wrath has returned, accompanied by a cast of associates that bring drums, additional vocals, and saxophone to the table. Continue reading “Pure Wrath – Bleak Days Ahead (Review)”
This is the fifth album from Portuguese metal/post-black metal band Gaerea.
It’s been very interesting to watch Gaerea develop over the years, peaking their black metal assault on 2022’s Mirage, before adding in a few different textures and influences on 2024’s very well-received Coma. The latter was the band’s biggest stylistic shift until that point. Loss delivers an even larger Continue reading “Gaerea – Loss (Review)”
Olhava are a Russian atmospheric/post-black metal band and this is their seventh album.
Olhava have built up an eviable body of work, including 2021’s Frozen Bloom, 2022’s Reborn and 2024’s Sacrifice. This brings us nicely to the 78-minute Memorial, a record that takes us on another gargantuan excursion into post-blackened waters. Continue reading “Olhava – Memorial (Review)”
This is the second album from UK post-black metal band Unmother.
State Dependent Memory contains 38 minutes of modern/post-black metal, which includes a cover of a band called ΟΔΟΣ 55, here transmuted into something Continue reading “Unmother – State Dependent Memory (Review)”
Domhain are a post-black metal band from Northern Ireland and this is their debut album.
I’ve been looking forward to hearing an album from Domhain ever since first catching them at 2024’s Fortress Festival, (and then narrowly missing them with Saor a couple of months later). In Perfect Stillness contains 35 minutes of material, and is a strikingly strong record. Continue reading “Domhain – In Perfect Stillness (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 