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)”

Dawn Ray’d – Behold Sedition Plainsong (Review)

Dawn Ray'd - Behold Sedition PlainsongThis is the second album from Dawn Ray’d, a black metal band from the UK.

Dawn Ray’d play classic, second wave-inspired black metal, with moments of folk interspersed here and there. Violin features prominently, and enhances the music in unobtrusive ways. Continue reading “Dawn Ray’d – Behold Sedition Plainsong (Review)”

Ossomancer – Artes Magickae (Review)

Ossomancer - Artes MagickaeOssomancer is a black metal entity from the US and this is their debut album.

Ossomancer combine old and new, taking a base of second wave black metal and transporting it to the present day. Continue reading “Ossomancer – Artes Magickae (Review)”

Asagraum – Dawn of Infinite Fire (Review)

Asagraum - Dawn of Infinite FireAsagraum are an international black metal band and this is their second album.

After 2017’s enjoyable Potestas Magicum Diaboli, Asagraum are now back with another 46 minutes of second wave black metal worship. Continue reading “Asagraum – Dawn of Infinite Fire (Review)”

Runespell – Voice of Opprobrium (Review)

Runespell - Voice of OpprobriumRunespell is a solo black metal band from Australia, and this is his third album.

I’ve enjoyed both Unhallowed Blood Oath and Order of Vengeance, and now this new album, hot on the heels of the previous one, has arrived to sate my never-ending thirst for black metal. Continue reading “Runespell – Voice of Opprobrium (Review)”