This is the seventh album from Swedish black metallers Watain.
This is the follow up to 2018’s Trident Wolf Abyss and contains 50 minutes of new material. The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain is raw and unforgiving, but not without character or atmosphere. The songs have the feel of those on classic second Continue reading “Watain – The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain (Review)”
This is the third album from UK black metal act Sidious.
I’ve enjoyed watching Sidious develop from their symphonic black/death beginnings, (Revealed in Profane Splendour), to their metamorphosis into the pure black metal form of their last album, (Temporal). Now we have Blackest Insurrection, where the band spend 48 minutes showcasing a refinement of their raw blackened assault. Out of the two, I’d say that this is the superior release when compared to Temporal, and it’s great to hear the band improving their sound. Continue reading “Sidious – Blackest Insurrection (Review)”
This 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)”
This is the debut album from Modern Rites, a Swiss/US black metal band.
Featuring members of Aara and Kuyashii, Monuments contains 37 minutes of modern blackened aggression that mainly exists in the melodic black metal sphere, but not exclusively. The music also borrows from the wellspring of 90s industrial music, (which can be especially felt in some of the melodies, structuring, and atmospheres), as well as some of the more brutal strains of modern black metal. Continue reading “Modern Rites – Monuments (Review)”
This is the fourth album from US black metallers Wolvhammer.
This is the much-awaited follow-up to 2014’s Clawing into Black Sun, which was one of my favourite releases of that year. To say I’ve been looking forward to this album is an understatement. Continue reading “Wolvhammer – The Monuments of Ash & Bone (Review)”
Balmog are a Spanish black metal band and this is their third album.
Balmog play the kind of black metal that’s dark and violent, but with the depth and substance of something much more sinister and blackly majestic. Continue reading “Balmog – Vacuum (Review)”
So here’s a new thing – I’ll briefly summarise some of my favourite releases from the month that I’ve listened to. All of this stuff is great music, so get your listening ears on and get ready to bang your head.
Okay, so for the first month of 2018 we have had a lot of decent tunes to enjoy. I don’t intend to list everything here, but merely some that have caught my attention a bit more than others, for whatever reason. Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of January 2018”
This is the sixth album from Swedish black metallers Watain.
Trident Wolf Eclipse sees a stripped back Watain, with only the most lethal and virulent parts exposed to the world. This album finds the band lean, raw, and hungry for blood. Continue reading “Watain – Trident Wolf Eclipse (Review)”
Kadaverdisciplin are a Swedish black metal band and this is their debut album.
Inspired by the second wave Swedish sound of the 90s, Kadaverdisciplin have updated this with a modern delivery for 2017 and then unleashed their virulent blackened plague on the world with a clear enthusiasm for the harm that it causes. Continue reading “Kadaverdisciplin – Death Supremacy (Review)”
Trivax are an Iranian/UK black metal band and this is their debut album.
SIN contains 70 minutes of sophisticated blackened art, combining the raging venom that the style does so well with a mature approach to melody and compositional dynamics. Continue reading “Trivax – SIN (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 