Haunter – Sacramental Death Qualia (Review)

Haunter - Sacramental Death QualiaThis is the second album from US black/death metallers Haunter.

Sacramental Death Qualia is a mutant, constantly-shifting hybrid of progressive black/death metal. Mixing impenetrable dissonance with grim blackened melody and classic progressive beauty, the music combines darkness and light in such way that it can be almost jarring on Continue reading “Haunter – Sacramental Death Qualia (Review)”

Salvaticus – Ordo Naturalis (Review)

Salvaticus - Ordo NaturalisThis is the second album from US black metallers Salvaticus.

2014 seems quite long ago, but that was when the very enjoyable Hidden Manna was released. I really, really liked that record, and it even made my end of year list for that year. Over five years later, the band have now returned with Ordo Naturalis, and it seems they have been busy. Continue reading “Salvaticus – Ordo Naturalis (Review)”

Mavradoxa – Nightmarrow (Review)

Mavradoxa - NightmarrowMavradoxa are an atmospheric black metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Afer enjoying 2017’s memorable Lethean Lament, Mavradoxa have now returned with a shorter album, (43 minutes vs its predecessor’s 62 minutes), that sees them focused, lean, and firing on all cylinders. Continue reading “Mavradoxa – Nightmarrow (Review)”

Kaleikr – Heart of Lead (Review)

kaleikr - heart of leadKaleikr are an Icelandic black/death metal band and this is their debut album.

This is black metal that’s progressive and emotive. Heart of Lead is an album that you can almost visibly see change as it develops and unfolds. As it runs through its playing time, Kaleikr’s music becomes increasingly darker and more unhinged. Continue reading “Kaleikr – Heart of Lead (Review)”

Morrow – The Weight of These Feathers (Review)

MorrowMorrow are a US black metal band and this is their debut album.

Not to be confused with the Morrow from the UK that have appeared on this site previously, this US band play atmospheric black metal with ambient and post-rock influences. Continue reading “Morrow – The Weight of These Feathers (Review)”

Mesarthim – The Density Parameter (Review)

MesarthimThis is the third album from Australian black metallers Mesarthim.

2016’s .- -… … . -. -.-. . was an album I really enjoyed, so this new full-length is very gratefully received. The Density Parameter, however, is something else entirely. Continue reading “Mesarthim – The Density Parameter (Review)”

Sykelig Englen – Hagall (Review)

Sykelig EnglenSykelig Englen is a black metal solo project from the UK and this is the artist’s second album.

Hagall features short slices of Scandinavian-influenced black metal. Bands such as Marduk, Mayhem, Shining, and Gorgoroth are probably pretty decent starting reference points, but don’t tell the whole story. If you throw in some depressive black metal alongside this, as well as some other, quirkier elements, then I suppose you’ve largely a got a good idea of what this sounds like. Continue reading “Sykelig Englen – Hagall (Review)”

Skogen – Skuggorna Kallar (Review)

SkogenSkogen are a Swedish black metal band and this is their fifth album.

Skogen play a mix of black metal and folk, producing an atmospheric and charismatic take on the style. Continue reading “Skogen – Skuggorna Kallar (Review)”

The Shiva Hypothesis – Ouroboros Stirs (Review)

The Shiva HypothesisThe Shiva Hypothesis are a black metal band from the Netherlands and this is their debut album.

The Shiva Hypothesis play music that mixes elements of black and death metal together into an atmospheric and obscure form of extreme metal. Continue reading “The Shiva Hypothesis – Ouroboros Stirs (Review)”