This is the debut album from US black metal band Vakker.
I only encountered What Will Become of Our Pain due to a random social media recommendation, and I’m very glad I did. Vakker play atmospheric black metal, only with the sort of horrific, monstrous vocals that you wouldn’t normally associate with the style. Continue reading “Vakker – What Will Become of Our Pain (Review)”
This is the third album from US black metal band Oskoreien.
After enjoying both previous Oskoreien albums, it’s come as a surprise to discover that I never actually reviewed either of them. Hollow Fangs is a great opportunity to remedy this, and it’s Oskoreien’s first outing as a full band too. Hollow Fangs contains 39 minutes of new material, so let’s dive in. Continue reading “Oskoreien – Hollow Fangs (Review)”
Mara are a Swedish black metal band and this is their fifth album.
I thoroughly enjoyed 2019’s RÖK and 2022’s Loka Maer, so was pleased to see Sword of Vengeance appear on the horizon, threatening like a blackened storm. Yep, it’s time for 35 minutes of darkness come to swallow the world. Continue reading “Mara – Sword of Vengeance (Review)”
This is the latest EP from US black metallers Valdrin.
2023’s Throne of the Lunar Soul was a standout album, so it’s great to have more new Valdrin appear. Apex Violator is a tight 29 minutes, delivering five songs of Valdrin’s sharp, lethal black metal. Continue reading “Valdrin – Apex Violator (Review)”
This is the latest EP/mini-album from Iku-Turso, a Finnish/Dutch black metal band.
Brought to us by current/ex-members of From the Vastland, Khanus, and Order of Nosferat, Wolfheart contains 30 minutes of material, consisting of four original tracks and an Emperor cover. Iku-Turso play old-school black metal, steeped in the lore of the Scandinavian second wave. Continue reading “Iku-Turso – Wolfheart (Review)”
This is the sixth album from French black metallers Darkenhöld.
Following on from 2020’s Arcanes & Sortilèges, Le Fléau du Rocher gives us 48 minutes of new material from Darkenhöld. The band’s medieval black metal hits the spot, conjuring landscapes of blackened texture for the listener to explore. Continue reading “Darkenhöld – Le Fléau du Rocher (Review)”
This is the second album from US black/death metal band Drouth.
It’s been five long years since 2020’s Excerpts from a Dread Liturgy, but now Drouth are back, with a new bassist in tow, (current/ex-Cormorant/Ursa). So, let’s turn our attention to the five new songs we have here in the form of the 41-minute The Teeth of Time. Continue reading “Drouth – The Teeth of Time (Review)”
This is the second album from Lust Hag, a solo black metal act from the US.
I didn’t expect a new Lust Hag album so soon after the artist’s first one from last year, but I shouldn’t have been surprised I suppose. After all, since then, she has also released Prayers Unanswered, (a split with Reaping Fields,), and a split with Genital Shame. As a big fan of Lust Hag, the 44-minute Irrevocably Drubbed is very well-received. Continue reading “Lust Hag – Irrevocably Drubbed (Review)”
Being a fan of Carpathian Forest ever since first getting Strange Old Brew way back in 2000, I knew I wanted to see this show. Black Altar were an added bonus on top. Then, recently, when Wolfbastard were added as opener, it simply meant I was looking forward to it even more. Continue reading “Carpathian Forest/Black Altar/Wolfbastard – Rebellion, Manchester – 18/03/25 (Live Review)”
This is the latest EP from UK black metallers Ninkharsag.
This has been a long time coming. In a similar way to the recent Abduction album Existentialismus, I saw Ninkharsag play songs from this release live back in February 2024, but it’s only now seeing the light of day. Has it been worth the wait to hear Ninkharsag’s brand of melodic black metal once more? Continue reading “Ninkharsag – The Black Swords of Winter (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 