Progressive Black Metal – Page 5

Laster – Andermans Mijne (Review)

Laster are a, (sort of), black metal band from the Netherlands and this is their fourth album.

It’s been a while since I’ve caught up with Laster. 2017’s Ons Vrije Fatum, to be precise, (with 2014’s De Verste Verte Is Hier and their 2016 split with Wederganger before that). Since then they’ve had another album, (and an EP), that I haven’t heard, but that apparently saw an increase in the avant-garde and experimental aspects of their sound. So what does Andermans Mijne present us with? Continue reading “Laster – Andermans Mijne (Review)”

Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites) – Ἀντιτιμωρουμένη (Review)

This is the third album from Ὁπλίτης, (otherwise known as Hoplites), a solo post-black metal band from China.

The artist behind Ὁπλίτης has had a busy year. This is the third album from this project alone, (following on from Ψευδομένη and Τρωθησομένη), never mind other extracurricular activities such as the Vitriolic Sage record. With such a withering rate of output, has Ἀντιτιμωρουμένη seen the quality levels of Ὁπλίτης dip? Continue reading “Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites) – Ἀντιτιμωρουμένη (Review)”

Shadow Legion – Shadow Legion (Review)

This is the debut album from Shadow Legion, a progressive extreme metal band from the US.

Shadow Legion contains 68 minutes of music, and is brought to us by current/ex-members of bands such as Diabolic, Gigan, Hate Eternal, and Pyrrhon, among others. Continue reading “Shadow Legion – Shadow Legion (Review)”

Fen – Monuments to Absence (Review)

Fen are a UK black metal band and this is their seventh album.

I last caught up with Fen on their 2017 album Winter. Apparently they’ve had another album since then, (The Dead Light), which I somehow managed to completely miss, which is a shame. Regardless, it’s now time for Monuments to Absence and its 67 minutes of music to absorb. Continue reading “Fen – Monuments to Absence (Review)”

Nattehimmel – Mourningstar (Review)

Nattehimmel are an international, (Norway/UK), black metal band and this is their debut album.

Featuring current and ex-members of Emancer, Ewigkeit, Green Carnation, In the Woods…, Old Forest, and The Meads of Asphodel, Mourningstar is a 45-minute journey into 90s black metal that’s nostalgic, yet still relevant, and has a few detours too. Continue reading “Nattehimmel – Mourningstar (Review)”

Moonreich – Amer (Review)

This is the fifth album from Moonreich, a French black metal band.

Moonreich’s aggressive brand of modern black metal is always good to hear. Following on from 2018’s Fugue and 2019’s Wormgod, Amer contains 43 minutes of new material from this enjoyable band. Continue reading “Moonreich – Amer (Review)”

Dawn of Ouroboros – Velvet Incandescence (Review)

This is the second album from Dawn of Ouroboros, a progressive black/death metal band from the US.

Following on from 2020’s well-received The Art of Morphology, Velvet Incandescence brings us 46 minutes of new material from Dawn of Ouroboros, who feature members of Botanist and Cailleach Calling. Continue reading “Dawn of Ouroboros – Velvet Incandescence (Review)”

Dødheimsgard – Black Medium Current (Review)

This is the sixth album from avant-garde black metal band Dødheimsgard.

Black Medium Current contains 70 minutes of material, which is, I confess, a rather bland way of introducing such a superlative record. It’s hard to know where to start with an album like this though, as there’s just so much to explore here, and it’s all so very high in quality. Continue reading “Dødheimsgard – Black Medium Current (Review)”

Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites) – Τρωθησομένη (Review)

This is the second album from Ὁπλίτης (otherwise known as Hoplites), a one-man post-black metal band from China.

Well this is unexpected. Having only unleashed the stunning Ψευδομένη on an unsuspecting world in January, we now get the equally unexpected Τρωθησομένη – 38 minutes of tasty new material from the very talented, (and apparently very prolific), artist behind Ὁπλίτης, (as well as Vitriolic Sage). Continue reading “Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites) – Τρωθησομένη (Review)”

Enslaved – Heimdal (Review)

Enslaved are a Norwegian progressive black metal band and this is their sixteenth album.

Following on from 2017’s E and 2020’s Utgard, Enslaved return once more with Heimdal, 48 minutes of progressive black metal. Or, probably more accurately, blackened progressive metal. Either way, Heimdall essentially continues the path that Utgard started upon, breaking new ground, while still keeping a firm eye on where the band came from. Continue reading “Enslaved – Heimdal (Review)”