From the Vastland – The Haft Khan (Review)

From the Vastland - The Haft KhanFrom the Vastland is an Iranian/Norwegian black metal band and this is their sixth album.

We’re familiar with From the Vastland’s work – both 2016’s Chamrosh and 2018’s Daevayasna were enjoyable examples of classic blackened fury. The Haft Khan provides us with another seven songs in a similar vein; 46 minutes of new material to enjoy. Continue reading “From the Vastland – The Haft Khan (Review)”

Afsky – Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død (Review)

Afsky - Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig DødAfsky is a one-man Danish black metal band and this is his second album.

Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død is the follow up to the very enjoyable Sorg from 2018, and contains 46 minutes of new material. Mixing small parts of folk and doom into a traditional black metal approach, this is a melancholic and emotive take on the blackened style. Continue reading “Afsky – Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død (Review)”

Thokkian Vortex – Thy Throne Is Mine (Review)

Thokkian Vortex - Thy Throne Is MineThokkian Vortex are a black metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Featuring an ex-member of Ancient, Thokkian Vortex deliver 45 minutes of second wave-inspired black metal. Continue reading “Thokkian Vortex – Thy Throne Is Mine (Review)”

Fluisteraars – Bloem (Review)

Fluisteraars - BloemFluisteraars are a Black Metal band from the Netherlands and this is their third album.

2015’s Luwte was an engaging affair, full of icy atmospheric black metal delivered with character and much promise for the future. That future is apparently now. Continue reading “Fluisteraars – Bloem (Review)”

Mourir – Animal Bouffe Animal (Review)

Mourir - Animal Bouffe AnimalThis is the debut album from Mourir, a black metal band from France.

The music on Animal Bouffe Animal takes influence from the Scandinavian second wave, but then updates this with modern touches and uncomfortable dissonance, scathing sludge, and harrowing doom. The end result is 34 minutes of atmospheric rawness that combines old and new to produce something hideously enjoyable. Continue reading “Mourir – Animal Bouffe Animal (Review)”

Aethyrick – Gnosis (Review)

Aethyrick - GnosisThis is the second album from Finnish black metallers Aethyrick.

2018’s Praxis was an enjoyable slice of personable second wave darkness, bolstered by both personality and ability. It doesn’t seem like too long ago that it was released, so I was surprised to see a new album already. It seems the band are not content to rest on their laurels. Continue reading “Aethyrick – Gnosis (Review)”

Asgrauw – IJsval (Review)

Asgrauw - IJsvalThis is the fourth album from Asgrauw, a black metal band from the Netherlands.

Previous full-length Gronspech was an enjoyable album that appealed to the old-school black metal fanbase, and new album IJsval continues in this same vein, with 38 minutes of biting blackened material. Continue reading “Asgrauw – IJsval (Review)”

Mara – RÖK (Review)

Mara - RÖKMara is a Swedish one man black metal band and this is his third album.

Sometimes you just need a hit of the black stuff, and RÖK offers 36 minutes of the darkness you need. Spread across 5 tracks, this is cold black metal played as if it was still the 90s. Continue reading “Mara – RÖK (Review)”