Versatile – Les Litanies du Vide (Review)

Versatile - Les Litanies du VideThis is debut album from Swiss industrial black metal band Versatile.

I did something unusual with this album – I went into it completely fresh, without hearing anything from them at all. I normally sample everything first to see if it’s my thing or not, but here a combination of the album cover and logo made me just want to listen to it, regardless. What did I find? Continue reading “Versatile – Les Litanies du Vide (Review)”

Borgne – Renaître de ses Fanges (Review)

Borgne - Renaître de ses FangesThis is the eleventh album from Swiss black metal act Borgne.

I really enjoyed 2021’s Temps Morts, so was eager to check out what Renaître de ses Fanges had to offer. With 65 minutes of music to absorb and digest, Borgne’s latest is a satiating meal of atmospheric industrial-tinged black metal flavour. Convincingly demonstrating that Temps Morts was not a one off, Renaître de ses Fanges has more than met my expectations. Continue reading “Borgne – Renaître de ses Fanges (Review)”

Istapp – Sól Tér Sortna (Review)

Istapp - Sól Tér SortnaThis is the fourth album from Swedish black metallers Istapp.

Brought to us by current/ex-members of bands such as Entrails, Necrophagous, Soijl, and Visceral Bleeding, Sól Tér Sortna contains 45 minutes of sharp and fast melodic black metal. Continue reading “Istapp – Sól Tér Sortna (Review)”

Ofnus – Valediction (Review)

Ofnus - ValedictionThis is the second album from UK black metal band Ofnus.

Ofnus, (who feature an ex-member of Agrona), present us with 58 minutes of atmospheric black metal on Valediction. I’d heard good things about the band’s debut album, (I need to go check that out), but this is my first time hearing Ofnus and they have exceeded expectations. Continue reading “Ofnus – Valediction (Review)”

Unreqvited – Pathway to the Moon (Review)

Unreqvited - Pathway to the MoonThis is the seventh album from Canadian solo post-black metal band Unreqvited.

Pathway to the Moon contains 43 minutes of post-black metal, taking in elements of blackgaze, symphonic black metal, progressive metal, and post-rock along the way. If you are familiar with Unreqvited’s past work, Pathway to the Moon finds the artist taking their art to the next level. Everything here is an evolutionary step up, delivering music that is extremely well-rendered into its final form. Continue reading “Unreqvited – Pathway to the Moon (Review)”

Pestilent Hex – Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow (Review)

Pestilent Hex - Sorceries of Sanguine & ShadowPestilent Hex are a black metal band from Finland and this is their second album.

After 2022’s enjoyable The Ashen Abhorrence, Pestilent Hex have now returned with the 46-minute Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow. Continue reading “Pestilent Hex – Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow (Review)”

Wraithfyre – Of Fell Peaks and Haunted Chasms (Review)

Wraithfyre - Of Fell Peaks and Haunted ChasmsThis is the debut album from Wraithfyre, a UK solo black metal band.

On Of Fell Peaks and Haunted Chasms the artist behind Wraithfyre delivers 37 minutes of old-school symphonic black metal. It’s good stuff, and has clearly been created by somebody that knows the style well. Continue reading “Wraithfyre – Of Fell Peaks and Haunted Chasms (Review)”

Seth – La France des Maudits (Review)

Seth - La France des MauditsThis is the seventh album from French black metallers Seth.

La France des Maudits offers up 46 minutes of expressive black metal. Seth are one of those bands that have been around for some time now and despite being aware of them since their very early days I’ve never actually heard them before. This new album seemed like the perfect time to rectify this. Continue reading “Seth – La France des Maudits (Review)”

Perchta – D​’​Muata (Review)

Perchta - D​’​MuataThis is the second album from Perchta, a black metal band from Austria.

D​’​Muata offers a 48-minute atmospheric blackened folk experience that’s compelling and immersive. Perchta have crafted a strong personality of their own on this record, and it’s one that serves them well for almost all of the album. Continue reading “Perchta – D​’​Muata (Review)”

Ende – L’aube des Anathèmes (Review)

Ende - L'aube des AnathèmesEnde are a French black metal band and this is their sixth album.

I always like being able to catch up with Ende’s work. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, make sure you check out 2015’s The Rebirth of I, 2017’s Emën Etan, or 2018’s Goétie Funeste, (or indeed any of their other work), and you’ll be assured of encountering an album of traditional black metal that’s worth your time. Which brings us to the 41 minutes of new material on L’aube des Anathèmes; has Ende’s quality streak continued? Continue reading “Ende – L’aube des Anathèmes (Review)”