This is the third album from US black metal band Hulder.
Following on from 2022’s The Eternal Fanfare and 2024’s Verses in Oath, comes the 49-minute Verbolgen, which is Hulder’s first as a duo. Verbolgen is old-school black metal, delivered with contemporary skill and vision. If you’re familiar with Hulder’s past work, then this new record is the next step along the artist’s path, a progression most welcome. Continue reading “Hulder – Verbolgen (Review)”
Lumen ad Mortem are an Australian black metal band and this is their second album.
Following on from 2023’s Upon the Edge of Darkness, A Grave Descent brings us 42 minutes of new material from Lumen ad Mortem. Theirs is an engaging, enveloping form of black metal that burns cold, but is still fiery at heart nonetheless.
A Grave Ascent follows Continue reading “Lumen ad Mortem – A Grave Ascent (Review)”
This is the debut album from US black metal band Astral Alchemy.
Weaving Chilling Magical Dreamworlds unleashes 39 minutes of multifaceted black metal on the world. Astral Alchemy revel in the creation of an alluring mix of the ancient and the modern, leading to a record that captures the strengths from both remarkably well. Continue reading “Astral Alchemy – Weaving Chilling Magical Dreamworlds (Review)”
This is the tenth album from Norwegian black metallers Dimmu Borgir.
Eight long years since 2018’s Eonian, the legendary Dimmu Borgir have returned. Bringing the world 72 minutes of new material, Grand Serpent Rising is an unexpectedly atavistic record, but is all the better for it. Continue reading “Dimmu Borgir – Grand Serpent Rising (Review)”
This is the second album from blackened thrash metallers Tyrannus.
Tyrannus play a mix of black and thrash metal, alongside other influences, and it hits the spot. On Mournhold they combine it all into a 40-minute infernal assault that this simplistic description doesn’t really do justice to. Brought to us by current/ex-members of Ashenspire and Live Burial, Mournhold is a beast. Continue reading “Tyrannus – Mournhold (Review)”
Lorn are an Italian black metal band and this is their fourth album.
Following on from 2017’s Arrayed Claws, Lorn have now returned with the 41-minute Searing Blood. It’s not the same Lorn as previously encountered though. However, when you listen to Searing Blood, it’s hard to complain. This is a shockingly good record. Continue reading “Lorn – Searing Blood (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Indonesian one-man black metal band Pure Wrath.
Bleak Days Ahead is the 41-minute folow up to 2022’s well-received Hymn to the Woeful Hearts. The artist behind Pure Wrath has returned, accompanied by a cast of associates that bring drums, additional vocals, and saxophone to the table. Continue reading “Pure Wrath – Bleak Days Ahead (Review)”
Blood Countess are a black metal band from the UK and this is their second album.
After Blood Countess’s absolutely savage performance at this year’s Reaper Fest, it’s now time to see what they’re capable of on record. Can Imperatrix Sanguinis capture the band’s blood-soaked raw vitality across its 39-minute running time? Continue reading “Blood Countess – Imperatrix Sanguinis (Review)”
Diabolus, 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)”
Bizarrekult are a Norwegian post-black metal band and this is their third album.
2023’s Den Tapte Krigen was a notable record, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the band live in 2024. Alt Som Finnes is one I’ve been looking forward to, so let’s get right to it. Across these 44 minutes, have Bizarrekult delivered the goods?
They absolutely have. Continue reading “Bizarrekult – Alt Som Finnes (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 