Geist of Ouachita – Imprisoned in the Graven Wood (Review)

Geist of Ouachita - Imprisoned in the Graven WoodThis is the debut album from one-man US black metal band Geist of Ouachita.

Imprisoned in the Graven Wood contains 32 minutes of raw, unfriendly black metal. Rooted in the 90s, but not limited to just that era, this is black metal with melodic sensibilities and a bladed emotive sheen. Continue reading “Geist of Ouachita – Imprisoned in the Graven Wood (Review)”

Miasmes – Répugnance (Review)

Miasmes - R​é​pugnanceMiasmes are a French black metal band and this is their debut album.

After how much I enjoyed last year’s debut EP Vermines, Répugnance is an album I have been looking forward to. The band have delivered the goods, as I was hoping they would, and Répugnance gives us 42 minutes of new material, (or mostly new – Pestilence makes a reappearance from the EP). Continue reading “Miasmes – Répugnance (Review)”

Dratna – Fomóraigh (Review)

Dratna - FomóraighDratna is a solo black metal band from Northern Ireland and this is his second album.

I enjoyed 2020’s Druid Winds & the Fall of the Celtic Gods, but missed Dratna’s debut album, so Fomóraigh is the perfect opportunity for me to catch back up with the band. The 39 minutes of material on the album reveals a well-rounded and well-developed slice of atmospheric black metal. Continue reading “Dratna – Fomóraigh (Review)”

Ondfødt – Det Österbottniska Mörkret (Review)

Ondfødt - Det Österbottniska M​ö​rkretThis is the fourth album from Finnish black metal act Ondfødt.

I always enjoy catching up with Ondfødt. 2014’s Hexkonst, 2019’s Dödsrikets Kallelse, and 2021’s Norden are all records that I enjoyed, so it made sense for me to want to check out Det Österbottniska Mörkret too. I’ll say upfront that this has turned out to be Ondfødt’s most professional, accomplished, and enjoyable record. Continue reading “Ondfødt – Det Österbottniska Mörkret (Review)”

Hexenschorf – Certain Rapture (Review)

Hexenschorf - Certain RaptureHexenschorf is a one-man black metal band from the US, and this is his debut album.

The artist behind Hexenshorf plays black metal in the classic second wave style. Certain Rapture provides us with 28 minutes of raw hostility. Continue reading “Hexenschorf – Certain Rapture (Review)”

Yskelgroth – Bleeding of the Hideous (Review)

Yskelgroth - Bleeding of the HideousYskelgroth are a black metal band from Spain and this is their second album.

Featuring the vocalist from the mighty AvulsedBleeding of the Hideous is a 33-minute mix of black and death metal that’s ferocious and harsh, yet not without depth and substance. Continue reading “Yskelgroth – Bleeding of the Hideous (Review)”

Leukotomy – Eternal Path to Eden (Review)

Leukotomy - Eternal Path to EdenLeukotomy are a Vietnamese black metal band and this is their debut album.

Eternal Path to Eden delivers 51 minutes of black metal that has a second wave base which has been adorned with avant-garde enrichments. Continue reading “Leukotomy – Eternal Path to Eden (Review)”

Tilintetgjort – In Death I Shall Arise (Review)

Tilintetgjort - In Death I Shall AriseThis is the debut album from Norwegian black metallers Tilintetgjort.

In Death I Shall Arise contains 47 minutes of music, culminating in the epic final 21-minute track Dommedagsmonument. It’s readily apparent that Tilintetgjort are not without ambition, and their take on black metal is filled with personality and character. Continue reading “Tilintetgjort – In Death I Shall Arise (Review)”

Lamp of Murmuur – Saturnian Bloodstorm (Review)

Lamp of Murmuur - Saturnian BloodstormThis is the third album from US one-man black metal band Lamp of Murmuur.

Saturnian Bloodstorm is a 40-minute blast of frozen winds. Lamp of Murmuur is a name that has made a strong mark here, and Saturnian Bloodstorm is a infectiously enjoyable slice of black metal. Continue reading “Lamp of Murmuur – Saturnian Bloodstorm (Review)”

Xalpen – The Curse of Kw​á​nyep (Review)

Xalpen - The Curse of Kw​á​nyepXalpen are a black metal band from Chile and this is their second album.

Xalpen play old-school black metal and The Curse of Kw​á​nyep gives us 49 minutes, (53 minutes with the bonus track), of infernal darkness. Continue reading “Xalpen – The Curse of Kw​á​nyep (Review)”