Vong is a one-man black metal band from Vietnam and this is his debut album.
Apparently a demo version of this was released in 2019, but this definitive version is a complete rerecording of the songs, with some rearranging going on too.
Vong’s music is an atavistic example of the core blackened Continue reading “Vong – A Wander in Liminality (Review)”
This is the latest EP from Hulder, a one-woman black metal band from the US.
A 26-minute mini-album, The Eternal Fanfare has strong roots in the classic 90s era. It uses these influences well, but is not restricted by them. The artist behind the band clearly knows what she wants to achieve with her music, and uses influences Continue reading “Hulder – The Eternal Fanfare (Review)”
This is the seventh album from French solo black metal act Esoctrilihum.
I enjoyed 2018’s Pandaemorthium (Forbidden Formulas to Awaken the Blind Sovereigns of Nothingness), and then enjoyed even more 2021’s Dy’th Requiem for the Serpent Telepath. Has this upward trajectory of enjoyment continued with Consecration of the Spiritüs Flesh? Continue reading “Esoctrilihum – Consecration of the Spiritüs Flesh (Review)”
This is the third album from Italian black metallers Ad Noctem Funeriis.
Abyss, Fire, Brimstones contains 44 minutes of pure blackened aggression. Ad Noctem Funeriis play a stripped-back, focused version of black metal that derives its core from the dark heart of the second wave. Continue reading “Ad Noctem Funeriis – Abyss, Fire, Brimstones (Review)”
Miasmes are a French black metal band and this is their debut EP.
Miasmes play classic second wave black metal with an underlying punk energy. It’s old-school and raw, and pretty damn nasty. Continue reading “Miasmes – Vermines (Review)”
This is the second album from Black Fucking Cancer, a black metal band from the US.
What can you say about a band with a name like Black Fucking Cancer, other than to describe them as sounding completely and utterly evil? 2016’s Black Fucking Cancer and 2019’s Boundless Arcane Invokations – Split with Gloam, both impressed me with their malignant take on underground black metal, so when Procreate Inverse raised its ugly head, I knew I had to prepare myself for a beating. Continue reading “Black Fucking Cancer – Procreate Inverse (Review)”
This is the third album from UK black metal act Sidious.
I’ve enjoyed watching Sidious develop from their symphonic black/death beginnings, (Revealed in Profane Splendour), to their metamorphosis into the pure black metal form of their last album, (Temporal). Now we have Blackest Insurrection, where the band spend 48 minutes showcasing a refinement of their raw blackened assault. Out of the two, I’d say that this is the superior release when compared to Temporal, and it’s great to hear the band improving their sound. Continue reading “Sidious – Blackest Insurrection (Review)”
Skinliv are from Denmark and Vermisst are from Poland, both play black metal and they have teamed up for this 38-minute split.
Skinliv open up the split, with four tracks across 19 minutes.
Skinliv’s blackened assault is Continue reading “Skinliv/Vermisst – Split (Review)”
This is the debut album from US one-man black metal act Antimony.
Antimony’s black metal is a combination of the progressive, atmospheric, and melodic styles. These are mixed together to produce lengthy songs that describe a journey into existential dread. The promo blurb states that it’s reminiscent of Moonsorrow, Mgła, and Drudkh, and this should give an appropriate starting reference for the style you’ll find on Ending. Continue reading “Antimony – Ending (Review)”
Armed only with the album cover and the briefest promo blurb I’ve probably ever seen simply identifying this as black metal, I decided to take a chance on it. In fact, I’ll reproduce the promo text in its entirety here – Continue reading “Pakkt – To Brocken Heights Where Witches Dance (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 