Acceptance – Crucifixion of Orchids (Review)

Acceptance - Crucifixion of OrchidsAcceptance are a post-black metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Previously known as Fatalist, (with an album under that name, so whether this is their first or second I suppose is up for debate), Acceptance exist at an interesting intersection between atmospheric black metal, sludge, blackgaze, and post-rock. Continue reading “Acceptance – Crucifixion of Orchids (Review)”

Silver Knife – Silver Knife (Review)

Silver Knife - Silver KnifeSilver Knife are an international post-black metal band and this is their second album.

Silver Knife is the 47-minute successor to 2020’s well-received Unyielding/Unseeing. Containing the extremely busy and talented Déhà, as well as current/ex-members of Burial Remains, Laster, Monads, Paramnesia, and Vuur & Zijde, Silver Knife is an album with a lot of experience poured into it, and it shows. Continue reading “Silver Knife – Silver Knife (Review)”

Svnth – Pink Noise Youth (Review)

Svnth - Pink Noise YouthSvnth are an Italian blackgaze band and this is their fourth album.

I’ve enjoyed watching Svnth develop over the years, back when they were called Seventh Genocide on 2017’s Toward Akina and 2018’s Svnth, and then when they changed their name for 2020’s Spring in Blue, which was their strongest outing yet, even making it onto my year end list. Which brings us, five years and a lineup change later, to the 37-minute Pink Noise Youth. Continue reading “Svnth – Pink Noise Youth (Review)”

In the Woods… – Otra (Review)

the Woods... - OtraIn the Woods… are a Norwegian progressive metal band and this is their seventh album.

I thoroughly enjoyed 2022’s Diversum, so was pleased when Otra appeared on the horizon. Across 47 minutes In the Woods… deliver a richly engaging album, full of textured and high quality songcraft. Continue reading “In the Woods… – Otra (Review)”

Deafheaven – Lonely People with Power (Review)

Deafheaven - Lonely People with PowerThis is the sixth album from US post-black metal/blackgaze band Deafheaven.

Lonely People with Power contains 62 minutes of music, and finds Deafhaven in masterful form. If you’re familiar with Deafheaven at all, as you hopefully are, this new record is essentially a culmination of everything they have done so far, resulting in an album that’s well-rounded, affecting, and quite brilliant. Continue reading “Deafheaven – Lonely People with Power (Review)”

Cross Bringer – Healismus Aeternus (Review)

Cross Bringer - Healismus AeternusCross Bringer are a black metal band from Russia and this is their second album.

Brought to us by the singer of Predatory Void and the drummer of Downfall of Gaia, Healismus Aeternus contains 27 minutes of scathing modern black metal. Taking influences from post-black metal, blackened hardcore, and crust, and building them into a whirlwind of intricate ferocity, Healismus Aeternus is a rewarding album that should find favour with fans of bands such as Black Birch, Celeste, Hexis, Rorcal, Still, The Sun’s Journey Through the Night, and Wiegedood. Continue reading “Cross Bringer – Healismus Aeternus (Review)”

Decline of the I – Wilhelm (Review)

Decline of the I - WilhelmDecline of the I are a French post-black metal band and this is their fifth album.

Ahh, I do so enjoy a new Decline of the I album. Every album I seem to like more and more too. 2015’s Rebellion, 2018’s Escape, and especially 2021’s Johannes, were all very good records, and I’d recommend them all. Which brings us to Wilhelm, and the 48 minutes of new material it has to offer us. Continue reading “Decline of the I – Wilhelm (Review)”

Unreqvited – Pathway to the Moon (Review)

Unreqvited - Pathway to the MoonThis is the seventh album from Canadian solo post-black metal band Unreqvited.

Pathway to the Moon contains 43 minutes of post-black metal, taking in elements of blackgaze, symphonic black metal, progressive metal, and post-rock along the way. If you are familiar with Unreqvited’s past work, Pathway to the Moon finds the artist taking their art to the next level. Everything here is an evolutionary step up, delivering music that is extremely well-rendered into its final form. Continue reading “Unreqvited – Pathway to the Moon (Review)”

Harakiri for the Sky – Scorched Earth (Review)

Harakiri for the Sky - Scorched EarthThis is the sixth album from Austrian post-black metallers Harakiri for the Sky.

Harakiri for the Sky always seem to deliver albums that are lengthy, but rewarding. 2016’s III: Trauma, 2018’s Arson, and 2021’s Mӕre were all notable records in this regard. Now, with the arrival of Scorched Earth, have Harakiri for the Sky continued this trend of quality album releases? Continue reading “Harakiri for the Sky – Scorched Earth (Review)”