Symphonic Black Metal – Page 6

Unru – Die Wiederkehr des Verdrängten (Review)

This is the second album from German black metal band Unru.

Die Wiederkehr des Verdrängten actually saw the light of day back in March, but I’ve been listening to it a lot and I just had to give it the attention it deserves with a review. I’ve enjoyed Unru’s work for a while, (check out the band’s 2014 split with Paramnesia and their 2016 debut album Als Tier ist der Mensch Nichts), but this new one is a different beast. The Unru of 2022 have crafted their most expansive, ambitious, and affecting work yet. Continue reading “Unru – Die Wiederkehr des Verdrängten (Review)”

Pestilent Hex – The Ashen Abhorrence (Review)

Pestilent Hex are a black metal band from Finland and this is their debut album.

Brought to us by members of Corpsessed and Desolate Shrine, The Ashen Abhorrence contains 42 minutes of authentic second wave black metal. Worshipping at the altar of the 90s classics, Pestilent Hex combine elements of bands such as Emperor, Gehenna, Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir, and Arcturus, while injecting their own grim character, to produce an enjoyable slice of symphonic blackened art. Continue reading “Pestilent Hex – The Ashen Abhorrence (Review)”

Déhà – Decadanse (Review)

Déhà is a Belgian solo artist who plays in a vast multitude of bands, across a variety of styles. In his solo work alone he spans a wide range of genres. This album is his 26th, (I think).

Decadanse was unleashed into the world back in March, so I’m a bit late to this particular party, but what an insanely madcap and enjoyable party it is! Continue reading “Déhà – Decadanse (Review)”

Katharos – Of Lineages Long Forgotten (Review)

Katharos are a Swedish black metal band and this is their second album.

Featuring the drummer of Wormwood, Of Lineages Long Forgotten contains 49 minutes of symphonic black metal. The band take clear influence from the likes of Dimmu Borgir and the legendary Emperor, while also carving their own path through Continue reading “Katharos – Of Lineages Long Forgotten (Review)”

Starer – The What It Is to Be (Review)

This is the second album from US one-man black metal band Starer.

Hot on the heels of last year’s 18° Below the Horizon, (which made it into my year end list), the artist behind the band has returned already. This time he’s packing 50 minutes of new material spread out over four grandiose songs. Continue reading “Starer – The What It Is to Be (Review)”

Pure Wrath – Hymn to the Woeful Hearts (Review)

This is the third album from Indonesian one-man black metal band Pure Wrath.

While the name Pure Wrath might conjure images of ultraviolent brutality of some sort, what we actually get on this album is 44 minutes of atmospheric black metal with an emphasis on melancholic emotion. Joined by a handful of other musicians, Continue reading “Pure Wrath – Hymn to the Woeful Hearts (Review)”

The Mist from the Mountains – Monumental – The Temple of Twilight (Review)

The Mist from the Mountains are a Finnish black metal band and this is their debut album.

Monumental – The Temple of Twilight contains 38 minutes of 90s-influenced nature-inspired black metal. The promo blurb mentions bands from that era such as Old Man’s Child, Gehenna, Dimmu Borgir, and Borknagar, which, coupled with the enticing album art, meant I definitely had to give The Mist from the Mountains some of my attention. Continue reading “The Mist from the Mountains – Monumental – The Temple of Twilight (Review)”

Worm Shepherd – Ritual Hymns (Review)

Worm Shepherd are a blackened deathcore band and this is their second album.

It’s been less than a year since 2021’s In the Wake of Sol, but here we are already with another Worm Shepherd album. Not that I’m complaining, as that album was a solid slab of blackened atmosphere and crushing deathcore heaviness. Continue reading “Worm Shepherd – Ritual Hymns (Review)”

Dauþuz – Vom Schwarzen Schmied (Review)

This is the fourth album from German black metallers Dauþuz.

Vom Schwarzen Schmied gives us 57 minutes of well-crafted black metal to sink our teeth into. Continue reading “Dauþuz – Vom Schwarzen Schmied (Review)”

Zornheym – The Zornheim Sleep Experiment (Review)

This is the second album from Zornheym, a symphonic extreme metal band from Sweden.

Featuring an ex-member of Dark Funeral, Zornheym present us with a symphonic monster of black/death/heavy/extreme metal. Yes, a lot of genres are thrown into this one, to great effect. The Zornheim Sleep Experiment contains 37 minutes of the stuff, and it’s a damn good listen. Continue reading “Zornheym – The Zornheim Sleep Experiment (Review)”