The Great Old Ones – Kadath (Review)

The Great Old Ones - KadathThe Great Old Ones are a French black metal band and this is their fifth album.

It’s been six long years since 2019’s Cosmicism, but we finally have some new material from The Great Old Ones. I thoroughly enjoy their work, (also check out 2014’s Tekeli-li and 2017’s EOD: A Tale of Dark Legacy), so greedily consuming Kadath as soon as I could was always going to happen. Continue reading “The Great Old Ones – Kadath (Review)”

Vyre – Voidserpent (Review)

Vyre - VoidserpentVyre are a German progressive black metal band and this is their fourth album.

I’ve enjoyed watching Vyre develop their sound, from the post-black metal of 2014’s The Initial Frontier Pt. 2, to the increasingly avant-garde stylings of 2018’s Weltformel. Which brings us to Voidserpent, a new album that offers us 42 minutes of new material from this expressive and interesting act. What have they done this time around? Continue reading “Vyre – Voidserpent (Review)”

Bloodbark – Sacred Sound of Solitude (Review)

Bloodbark - Sacred Sound of SolitudeBloodbark are a black metal band and this is their second album. The country of origin and number of members is apparently unknown.

Sacred Sound of Solitude provides us with 41 minutes of atmospheric black metal. The atmospheric core is augmented by elements of post-black metal, blackgaze, and post-rock, contributing to the richness of the album’s blackened heart. This approach allows Bloodbark to produce music that’s immersive and textured. Continue reading “Bloodbark – Sacred Sound of Solitude (Review)”

Bergthron – Neu Asen Land (Review)

Bergthron - Neu Asen LandBergthron are a German black metal band and this is their seventh album.

After a 15-year absence, Bergthron have unexpectedly appeared out of nowhere with 32 minutes of new material in the form of Neu Asen Land. If you know any of Bergthron’s first few albums or so, this almost sounds like a completely different band, so don’t go expecting the sprawling atmospheric black metal epics of their early work. If you’re unfamiliar with them though, or aren’t bothered by a change in direction, then there’s much to enjoy here if you are of a certain taste. Continue reading “Bergthron – Neu Asen Land (Review)”

Alcest/Svalbard/Doodseskader – Academy 2, Manchester – 12/12/24 (Live Review)

Alcest Svalbard Doodseskader - Academy 2, Manchester - 12.12.24 (Live Review)

I’ve never seen Alcest before, so this was a great opportunity to remedy that, especially as the wonderful Svalbard were also playing. Doodseskader too, but I don’t really know them. Continue reading “Alcest/Svalbard/Doodseskader – Academy 2, Manchester – 12/12/24 (Live Review)”

Winterfylleth/Wormwitch/Bizarrekult – Rebellion, Manchester – 10/11/24 (Live Review)

Winterfylleth Wormwitch Bizarrekult - Rebellion, Manchester - 10.11.24 (Live Review)Now this was a show I knew I couldn’t miss out on. All three bands are great, and any one of them I’d have come to see. All three together? Unmissable. Continue reading “Winterfylleth/Wormwitch/Bizarrekult – Rebellion, Manchester – 10/11/24 (Live Review)”

Still – A Theft (Review)

Still - A TheftStill are a post-black metal band from the UK and this is their second album.

Still boast a fierce, ugly sound that’s equal parts black metal, sludge, and hardcore, resulting in a post-blackened 35-minute burst of punishment that’s damaging, yet moreish. The more Still scar and brutalise you, the more you want more. Continue reading “Still – A Theft (Review)”

Anomalie – Riverchild (Review)

Anomalie - RiverchildAnomalie are an Austrian post-black metal band and this is their fifth album.

Although I enjoyed 2017’s Visions, 2021’s Tranceformation took Anomalie to another level, ending up as a firm favourite of mine that year. As such, anticipation is high for the 54-minute Riverchild. Can Anomalie deliver the goods once more? Continue reading “Anomalie – Riverchild (Review)”

Gaerea – Coma (Review)

Gaerea - ComaThis is the fourth album from Portuguese black metallers Gaerea.

Ever since I first heard 2018’s Unsettling Whispers Gaerea have stood out to me as something pretty special. In 2020 Limbo solidified this opinion, and then in 2022 Mirage cemented this further. In fact, my appreciation of Mirage has only increased since catching the band’s transcendental live experience at this year’s fantastic Fortress Festival. I have high hopes for Coma. Continue reading “Gaerea – Coma (Review)”