Lumen ad Mortem are an Australian black metal band and this is their second album.
Following on from 2023’s Upon the Edge of Darkness, A Grave Descent brings us 42 minutes of new material from Lumen ad Mortem. Theirs is an engaging, enveloping form of black metal that burns cold, but is still fiery at heart nonetheless.
A Grave Ascent follows Continue reading “Lumen ad Mortem – A Grave Ascent (Review)”
This is the debut album from US black metal band Astral Alchemy.
Weaving Chilling Magical Dreamworlds unleashes 39 minutes of multifaceted black metal on the world. Astral Alchemy revel in the creation of an alluring mix of the ancient and the modern, leading to a record that captures the strengths from both remarkably well. Continue reading “Astral Alchemy – Weaving Chilling Magical Dreamworlds (Review)”
This is the third album from US black metallers Stormkeep.
Bright to us by members of Blood Incantation, Lykotonon, and Wayfarer, The Nocturnes of Iswylm contains 46 minutes of engaging symphonic black metal. The return of Stormkeep is one heralded by change, but it’s a most welcome change, as this record is a beast. Continue reading “Stormkeep – The Nocturnes of Iswylm (Review)”
Hecate Enthroned are a black metal band from the UK and this is their seventh album.
Featuring members of Ba’al and Sidious in their ranks, legendary black metal act Hecate Enthroned return for the first time in seven years. What dark delights does The Corpse of a Titan, a Lament Long Buried bring to us? Continue reading “Hecate Enthroned – The Corpse of a Titan, a Lament Long Buried (Review)”
This is the tenth album from Norwegian black metallers Dimmu Borgir.
Eight long years since 2018’s Eonian, the legendary Dimmu Borgir have returned. Bringing the world 72 minutes of new material, Grand Serpent Rising is an unexpectedly atavistic record, but is all the better for it. Continue reading “Dimmu Borgir – Grand Serpent Rising (Review)”
This is the fourth album from US black/death/doom act Worm.
In many quarters Necropalace is a big deal. Through a range of EPs, splits, and albums, (such as Foreverglade and Bluenothing), Worm have continued to develop and grow over the years, essentially Continue reading “Worm – Necropalace (Review)”
This is the fourth album from US solo black metal band Lamp of Murmuur.
The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy is the follow up to 2023’s well-received Saturnian Bloodstorm. The latter was a record that only improved over time, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing songs from it, (and other releases), performed live when I saw Lamp of Murmuur at 2024’s Fortress Festival. All of this is to say, I’ve been looking forward to this new record. Continue reading “Lamp of Murmuur – The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Starer, a one-man black metal band from the US.
Since appearing out of nowhere with the wonderful 18° Below the Horizon in 2021, the artist behind Starer has been busy. We’ve had two subsequent full lengths, (2022’s The What It Is to Be and 2023’s Wind, Breeze, or Breath), and a plethora of other smaller releases. he’s now back with the 49-minute Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness, and it’s a cracking record. Continue reading “Starer – Ancient Monuments and Modern Sadness (Review)”
This is the debut album from black metal band Achathras.
A mysterious entity, formed by veterans of the scene apparently, Achathras certainly know their stuff. A Darkness of the Ancient Past contains 43 minutes of classic 90s black metal, and it’s pretty damn good. Continue reading “Achathras – A Darkness of the Ancient Past (Review)”
This is the debut album from UK black metallers Praesider.
Enter the Praesidium contains 48 minutes of old-school symphonic black metal. Praesider’s music evokes such a strong sense of nostalgia in me for the 90s that it’s almost overwhelming. Make no mistake though, Praesider are a skilled bunch and know their subject matter inside out. Continue reading “Praesider – Enter the Praesidium (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 