Windir

Primeval Mass – Nine Altars Review

By GardensTale on February 20, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, Greek Metal, Katoptron IX Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 14 comments

“What is it about black metal that drives artist to go at it solo? You rarely hear about one man thrash or prog metal bands, yet some of the biggest and most influential black metal artists take their journey solitary, including the likes of Panopticon and early Windir. They usually get by with the assistance of a guest musician or two. And most of these hermits even specialize in the same subcategory of atmospheric black metal. Maybe the inherent misanthropy of black metal specifically has something to do with it, or people copying their examples. Maybe it’s simply an easier genre to solo than others. Whatever the case, Primeval Mass is another example, with main man Orth taking up vocals, guitars and bass, leaving drums to session musician George C.” One man, nine altars.

Nachtterror – Judgement [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Carcharodon on January 8, 2020 in 2019, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Hypnotic Dirge Records, Melodic Black Metal, Symphonic Metal, Things You Might Have Missed, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 61 comments

“Earlier this year, I channeled all the might that my status as an exalted AMG writer imbues me with and demanded the promo Maeskyyrn’s Interlude from Hypnotic Dirge (read: I sent a politely-worded email). They obliged and sent not only Maeskyyrn but also Nachtterror. Reviewing schedules being what they are, we couldn’t get to symphonic black metal six-piece Nachtterror’s record in time for its release. And that is a damn shame because Judgement is a seriously good and incredibly varied slab of metal.” Metal cup runeth over.

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.

Vinsta – Drei Deita Review

By Twelve on November 1, 2019 in 2019, Austrian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 34 comments

“Sometimes metal is addictive in its brutality. Sometimes it is so technically impressive that we come back to it time and time again. Other times, it’s catchy, burrowing its hooks into our helpless brains and infecting us from within. But, in my own opinion, the best metal is simply compelling; it has an abstract quality about it that draws you in and becomes increasingly rewarding with every subsequent listen. So it was with Drei Deita (Three Foreboders), the second full-length release from Vinsta, a solo project from Austria’s Christian Höll.” Resurgence intensifies.

Rauhnåcht – Unterm Gipfelthron Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 10, 2019 in 2018, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Debemur Morti, Folk Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 49 comments

“Shit, there’re still albums coming out in 2018? Good ones, too? Yet, with my top ten already complete, it’s easy to write off December. But Madam X‘s watchful eye doesn’t sleep. And thank your lucky stars for that. Because we would have walked right past Rauhnåcht’s newest release, Unterm Gipfelthron.” Nearly missed.

Vreid – Lifehunger Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 27, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Black Metal, 101 comments

“It was June 2006 and I was helping a friend move into a downtown apartment. It was hot and we were scrambling up and down two flights of stairs as fast as possible before a cop could ticket us for taking up half-a-lane of traffic with our truck. When it was finally over, we grabbed lunch and went to my favorite record store down the street. This place had the strangest collection of albums I’d ever seen and a surprisingly large metal section for a town full of hippies and reggae fans. The album I selected that day was something I had heard many things about. From a band that rose from the ashes of Windir.” Vreid it and weep.

Cor Scorpii – Ruin Review

By Eldritch Elitist on June 30, 2018 in 2018, Dark Essence Records, Melodic Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Melodic Black Metal, 54 comments

“2018 has been a damn good year for folk-oriented black metal. Okay, quantitatively speaking, that’s not true at all; more accurately, there have been two particularly captivating releases in the new Sojourner and Vallendusk records that on their own have single-handedly carried the style in recent months. This seems more than a bit unfair to Norway’s Cor Scorpii. Formed from the ashes of Windir by drummer Steingrim and guitarist Strom (neither of whom are actually still in this band), their decade-in-the-making sophomore effort, Ruin, is relatively featureless when stacked against the current crop of folk-black trailblazers.” Folking in the ruins.

Divine Element – Thaurachs of Borsu Review

By Eldritch Elitist on May 19, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, I Voidhanger Records, International Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 26 comments

“Based on my review stats thus far into my AMG career, I’ve got a 66 percent chance of snagging a record featuring Spectral Lore guitarist Ayloss whenever I pull an I, Voidhanger release from the promo bin. It’s easy to see why the label is so eager to back his work; he’s one of the few black metal guitarists I can recall who possesses a unique playing style, slapping an unmistakable stamp onto pretty much every product he touches. But before he staked his claim to black metal fame with Spectral Lore, he cut his teeth on Divine Element.” Sharp teeth, sharp riffs.

Wormwood – Ghostlands: Wounds from a Bleeding Earth Review

By Akerblogger on March 13, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Non Serviam Records, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 50 comments

“Sometimes an album comes along that progressively gets better listen after listen. With their debut full-length Ghostlands: Wounds from a Bleeding Earth, Swedish melodic black metallers Wormwood have constructed such an album.” Worms, wood, ghosts, what else could you need?

70000 Tons of Metal: One Man’s Journey

By Mark Z. on March 12, 2017 in 2017, Blog Posts, Live Reviews, 39 comments

“My friends ask me what happened, but my ability to verbally communicate has been reduced to moaning and a weeping noise that sounds something like a baby panda crying for milk. I wonder how I’m going to make it through the final day of this floating festival. I wonder when the aching will subside. I wonder where my life went so wrong. How did I end up here, on the 7th annual 70000 Tons of Metal cruise, weak with exhaustion and feeling like my body has been bludgeoned with a sledgehammer? My mind drifts back…” Tales from a 70000 ton heavy thing.