Thron – Abysmal (Review)

Thron - AbysmalThron are a German melodic black metal band and this is their second album.

Thron play professionally-recorded black metal influenced by the second wave, with bands such as Dissection, Dimmu Borgir, Naglfar, Necrophobic, and Marduk worthy of mention as decent starting points for Abysmal. Continue reading “Thron – Abysmal (Review)”

Paths – In Lands Thought Lost (Review)

PathsThis is the third album from Paths, a Canadian black metal band.

Paths is a one man project aided by a session drummer, (from Panopticon). Together they play Scandinavian-influenced atmospheric black metal. For fans of this kind of thing, I have to say that In Lands Thought Lost is definitely above the average, and should be sought out at the earliest opportunity. Continue reading “Paths – In Lands Thought Lost (Review)”

Hænesy – Katruzsa (Review)

HaenesyThis is the debut album from Hungarian black metal band Hænesy.

Now this is the stuff. Katruzsa is a nature-inspired atmospheric black metal album with some post-black metal qualities. Underground and raw, with a sonic aesthetic that definitely pleases, this is textured black metal replete with affecting melodies and plenty of atmospheric depth. Continue reading “Hænesy – Katruzsa (Review)”

Vihamieli – Hymns of Deity (Review)

VihamieliVihamieli are a Finnish black metal band and this is their second album.

Hymns of Deity is the follow up to 2017’s Kuolevain Veri Uinuu Ikuisuuteen, which was an enjoyable trip into traditional second wave waters. Continue reading “Vihamieli – Hymns of Deity (Review)”

Myrkvid – Demons Are Inside (Review)

MyrkvidMyrkvid are a French black metal band and this is their latest EP.

Myrkvid play classic, second-wave black metal with a rolling, grooving fury and energetic blasphemy. Continue reading “Myrkvid – Demons Are Inside (Review)”

Immortal – Northern Chaos Gods (Review)

ImmortalImmortal are a Norwegian black metal band and this is their ninth album.

Immortal are pretty legendary by now, and as this album is their first since 2009’s All Shall Fall, it has a lot of expectations riding on it. Continue reading “Immortal – Northern Chaos Gods (Review)”

Utburd – The Horrors Untold (Review)

UtburdUtburd is a one man Russian black metal band and this is his second album.

Combining elements of both atmospheric and depressive black metal alongside a second wave base, this release explores the dark horrors that lurk in the night. Continue reading “Utburd – The Horrors Untold (Review)”

Incorporea – To Exorcize the Sun (Review)

IncorporeaIncorporea are a Spanish black metal band and this is their debut EP.

Here we have a darkly atmospheric 12 minutes of music. The two songs on this EP are very enjoyable examples of what Incorporea are capable of. Full of bleak, depressive atmosphere layered with cold aggression, this brief foray into the land of Incorporea is definitely worth the trip. Continue reading “Incorporea – To Exorcize the Sun (Review)”

Asgrauw – Gronspech (Review)

AsgrauwAsgrauw are a black metal band from the Netherlands and this is their third album.

Carrying a torch for old-school Scandinavian second wave black metal through a forest at night, Asgrauw have delivered an album that really does make me nostalgic for the 90s. The music on Gronspech speaks to me in a very specific, occult-tinged way that only this kind of music can. Continue reading “Asgrauw – Gronspech (Review)”