Osmose Productions

Avslut – Tyranni Review

By Mark Z. on November 25, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, 17 comments

“I don’t like black metal. Not in its traditional form, anyway. Give some blakkened fukkin thrash or blakkened fukkin death and I’ll bang my head till my skull cracks open, but usually traditional black metal just leaves me shrugging. Often the riffs feel secondary to the atmosphere and it’s telling that a band like Mgla could get as big as they did with a shtick that was essentially “we play black metal, but with riffs you actually care about.” Of course, there are always exceptions. Swedish quintet Avslut earned some acclaim on forums I frequent with their 2018 debut Deceptis, which I enjoyed for its ability to work clever riffing into a traditional black metal template.” Riff tiff.

Denial of God – The Hallow Mass Review

By Dear Hollow on November 4, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Danish Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 32 comments

“He dribbles down the court, the clock winding down to an excruciating ten seconds. He fakes left and tears right, leaving his opponent stumbling. This is why the Orlando Magic drafted the Most High with their No. 1 pick, because with God, all things are possible⁠—like a deep playoff run.” I doubt even God can conjure that up this year.

Akrotheism – The Law of Seven Deaths Review

By Ferrous Beuller on April 13, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Greek Metal, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 49 comments

“It seems to me that there are really only two doors that need to be sought in the hunt for black metal of real quality. One leads to a well whose mechanism is complex and unconventional. But, with patience and a deft touch, it reveals a spring of challenging and creative potential. The other leads to a charred room whose blackened walls contain a particularly fecal Mark Z, resplendent in bullet belt and lobbing liberal handfuls of sickle cell anemia with feral abandon. Greece’s Akrotheism predominantly stand in the former, but somehow manage to channel a little of both.” Two corners, one trvth.

Nordjevel – Necrogenesis Review

By Grymm on March 28, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 87 comments

“As I’m typing this, I’m in the most comfortable of cargo shorts and death metal t-shirts. Birds harmonize from the tops of leafless trees as my eyes and nostrils water due to flowers, weeds, and various fauna having a mass self-orgy. Yep, it’s springtime here in the realm of the Grymm, and yours truly isn’t quite prepared for the eventual descent into summer[1. Which I’m predicting will be next week.]. So what’s a man-cat to do to try to cool off just a little bit more? As I’m currently out of ice cream, it only makes sense to crank some icy-chill black metal from the happiest of lands: Norway! Nordjevel’s second album, Necrogenesis.” Evil in the shade.

Abyssic – High the Memory Review

By Cherd on February 28, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Norwegian Metal, Osmose Productions, Death Doom, Doom Metal, Funeral Doom, 64 comments

“Metal, as a rule, is an exercise in excess. Of the ‘popular’ musical styles, it’s the loudest, the heaviest, the angriest, the most extreme. Thematically, topics of death and darkness are presented with superlative hyperbole. For non-fans, it’s all about as subtle as a volcanic explosion. We, of course, know better. Within each metal sub-genre, bands fall on a relative spectrum ranging from ‘tastefully restrained’ to ‘over-indulgent like, whoa.’ But what does the latter look like when the sub-genre is already known for being the -est? Say, funeral doom? It looks something like Norway-based Abyssic’s second full-length, High the Memory.” The duck confit of doom.

Gorgon – The Veil of Darkness Review

By Mark Z. on January 23, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, French Metal, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 79 comments

“I first heard of Gorgon several years ago, when someone posted their song “From Red to Violet” in a forum thread titled “Worst Metal Songs Ever.” After listening to the song, I found I actually liked it, leading me to download their album The Jackal Pact and do a bit of research on the group. It turns out Gorgon were a cult French black metal act who released four albums in the 90s before ceasing activities in 2001. After “From Red to Violet” fell out of my listening rotation, I all but forgot about the group until I saw The Veil of Darkness pop up in our promo bin.” Gorgon will eat you.

Binah – Phobiate Review

By Kronos on October 1, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Death Metal, Osmose Productions, Progressive Death, Releases, Reviews, Death Metal, Progressive Death, 51 comments

“Binah hope to align themselves with well-loved death metal bands like Morbus Chron and Horrendous who have spliced psychedelia into the classic death metal sound. It’s at once progressive and regressive, hearkening back to the genre’s early ’90s heyday while venturing far outside of the footprint of a typical death metal band. And while these Englishmen are not quite so adventurous as either of those touchstone bands, Phobiate still wraps itself around unexpected corners combining Swedish heft and a sprinkle of Finnish eccentricity.” Serious Binahess.

Vanhelga – Fredagsmys Review

By Lokasenna on July 4, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, 57 comments

“There are few genres as on-the-nose as black metal. Case in point the bunch of Swedes in Vanhelga, which means “to desecrate or profane” in Swedish. The last time these fine fellows rolled through here two albums ago, our local corpse-painted cat, Grymm, covered them, and even talked the folks upstairs into giving them a runner-up spot for RotM April 2014.” Nasal desecration.

Filii Nigrantium Infernalium – Hóstia Review

By GardensTale on June 9, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Osmose Productions, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 82 comments

“Italian artist Paolo Girardi has supplied over 6 dozen bands with his infernal artwork, and that number now includes Portuguese blackened weirdos Filii Nigrantium Infernalium for their new album Hóstia. With all this religious symbolism, what do you think: will we be praising the Lord today, or shall we drown the Christian God in a pool of infernal blasphemy?” Rise to offend.

Totalselfhatred – Solitude Review

By Treble Yell on May 7, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Osmose Productions, Post-metal, Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, 42 comments

“The Australian summer is defined by a great many things but none more so than the irresistible sanctuary of our sprawling beaches. Umber bodies glisten and preen, hot chips sting the air with vinegar and the roar of the surf is a siren that beckons with a deafening song. Those sun-dappled waves bear a deception, however, because beyond the surface of their undulating splendor belies the dark rips that drag people down into an airless oblivion. I kept thinking about this frightful dichotomy as I listened to Solitude by Finland’s Totalselfhatred, a musical cry for help bifurcated by aching beauty and self-destruction.” Fear and loathing at the beauty parlor.