Necrofier – Prophecies of Eternal Darkness (Review)

Necrofier - Prophecies of Eternal DarknessThis is the debut album from US black metal band Necrofier.

Necrofier feature members of Oceans of Slumber and Church of Disgust in their lineup, (and other bands), and Prophecies of Eternal Darkness provides a compelling slice of melodic black metal across 36 minutes that manages to merge professional delivery with underground fire. Continue reading “Necrofier – Prophecies of Eternal Darkness (Review)”

False – Portent (Review)

False - PortentThis is the second album from False, a black metal band from the US.

Portent contains 41 minutes of atmospheric, melodic black metal. Effortlessly combining USBM with the old-school Norwegian variety, False have crafted an album that moves beyond either individual style. Continue reading “False – Portent (Review)”

Leucosis – Liminal (Review)

LeucosisLeucosis are a US black metal band and this is their third album.

This is atmospheric black metal merged with a rawer USBM approach. This results in music that has a lot of both presence and strength, which is one of the reasons why I find Leucosis’ work so compelling. Continue reading “Leucosis – Liminal (Review)”

One Master – Lycanthropic Burrowing (Review)

One MasterOne Master are a US black metal band and this is their fourth album.

After the extremely enjoyable blackened assault of 2015’s Reclusive Blasphemy, we finally have some new One Master to satisfy our dark cravings. Continue reading “One Master – Lycanthropic Burrowing (Review)”

One Master – Reclusive Blasphemy (Review)

One MasterThis is the third album from US Black Metallers One Master.

This is underground, occult, raw Black Metal that lays its cards on the table in the very first few seconds and blatantly announces, “this is who we are, this is what we do”.

And it’s bloody good, in an evil, malevolent way.

Although the band stick to the USBM template as laid down by the likes of Leviathan, there’s an impressive amount of depth to the songs on Reclusive Blasphemy. Each track takes you back to a pre-digital age where hearing bands even remotely like this took effort, commitment and contacts.

Back to the present though; One Master are definitely showcasing their dark talents on Reclusive Blasphemy. Will it be enough to propel them to the elite upper echelons of US Black Metal? If there is any justice, they’ll at least get a good shot at it as this album really is a bit of a corker.

Whether they blast it up or Doom it out, their proficiency never drops and the songs hit their marks. The aura of Blackened wrath is omnipresent and the band work their grim wonders across all 36 minutes with the ease of the naturally gifted.

Blackened melodies and forlorn emotions combine with furious rage to create hymns to lost gods and jealous daemons. These songs have a ritualistic edge that’s hypnotic in its delivery and frightening in its danger.

Reclusive Blasphemy hopefully will not stay reclusive. This needs to be heard.

Extremely highly recommended.