Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne! – Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne! (Review)

Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne - Diabolus, Mecum SemperterneDiabolus, Mecum Semperterne! are a black metal band from Norway and this is their debut album.

Brought to us be current/ex-members of bands such as Enevelde, Kråbøl, Lethe, Manes, Misotheist, Parfaxitas, Vemod, and Whoredom Rife, there’s a lot of experience that sits behind this project. Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne! is a 44-minute black metal incursion that will Continue reading “Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne! – Diabolus, Mecum Semperterne! (Review)”

Nazghor – A World Ablaze (Review)

Nazghor - A World AblazeNazghor are a Swedish black metal band and this is their eighth album.

Nazghor play old-school melodic black metal that drips with second wave darkness. On the 40-minute A World Ablaze, Nazghor capably showcase why their black metal is a cut above the norm. Get ready to immerse yourself in Nazghor’s fiery world. Continue reading “Nazghor – A World Ablaze (Review)”

Sidious – Malefic Necropolis (Review)

Sidious - Malefic NecropolisThis is the fourth album from UK black metal band Sidious.

From 2014’s symphonic blackened death metal Revealed in Profane Splendour, to 2019’s reinvention as the raw black metal darkness of Temporal, and then 2022’s slice of contemporary blackened might Blackest Insurrection, Sidious always put out something I want to listen to. Each album so far has been better than the last too. Can Malefic Necropolis continue to follow this upward trend? Continue reading “Sidious – Malefic Necropolis (Review)”

Argus Megere – Cerburea Apusului (Review)

Argus Megere - Cerburea ApusuluiArgus Megere are a Romanian black metal band and this is their fifth album.

Cerburea Apusului is the long awaited follow up to 2017’s VEII. It may have been a while since their last record, but Argus Megere have certainly not aged poorly. There’s a lot to absorb across Cerburea Apulsului. This is an album that’s easy to enjoy upon first experience, but it really settles into its own natural rhythms after repeated spins. Continue reading “Argus Megere – Cerburea Apusului (Review)”

Lamp of Murmuur – The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy (Review)

Lamp of Murmuur - The Dreaming Prince in EcstasyThis is the fourth album from US solo black metal band Lamp of Murmuur.

The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy is the follow up to 2023’s well-received Saturnian Bloodstorm. The latter was a record that only improved over time, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing songs from it, (and other releases), performed live when I saw Lamp of Murmuur at 2024’s Fortress Festival. All of this is to say, I’ve been looking forward to this new record. Continue reading “Lamp of Murmuur – The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy (Review)”

Miasmata – Subterrania (Review)

Miasmata - SubterraniaThis is the second album from New Zealand solo blackened heavy metal band Miasmata.

Subterrania brings us 39 minutes of material from the artist behind Miasmata. The style is a mix of black, speed, thrash, and heavy metal, and these six songs exemplify how to combine these elements into something cohesive and entertaining. Continue reading “Miasmata – Subterrania (Review)”

Afsky – Fællesskab (Review)

Afsky - FællesskabThis is the fourth album from Danish solo black metal band Afsky.

If you aren’t familiar with Afsky, make sure you also check out 2018’s Sorg, 2020’s Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død, and 2023’s Om Hundrede År. None will disappoint. Which leads us to Fællesskab, and its 45 minutes of new material. Can the artist behind Afsky maintain his winning streak of quality black metal albums? Continue reading “Afsky – Fællesskab (Review)”

Vespéral – La Mort de l’Âme (Review)

Vespéral - La Mort de l'ÂmeThis is the second album by Canadian black metal band Vespéral.

La Mort de l’Âme contains 41 minutes of black metal, brought to us in part by members of Conifère. I wasn’t consciously aware of Vespéral before they were announced to play the mighty Fortress Festival next year, although I’ve definitely seen their logo and album art before, somewhere, somehow. Continue reading “Vespéral – La Mort de l’Âme (Review)”

Terzij de Horde – Our Breath Is Not Ours Alone (Review)

Terzij de Horde - Our Breath Is Not Ours AloneTerzij de Horde are a black metal band from the Netherlands and this is their third album.

Whether it’s 2015’s Self or 2022’s In One of These, I Am Your Enemy, Terzij de Horde being the intensity. Now they’re back, sooner than expected, with the 43-minute Our Breath Is Not Ours Alone, and it absolutely rages. Continue reading “Terzij de Horde – Our Breath Is Not Ours Alone (Review)”