Doom_et_Al

Black Anvil – Regenesis Review

By Doom_et_Al on November 15, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, 32 comments

“In his review of Black Anvil’s 2017 album, As Was, Mark Z. noted that despite possessing a rock-solid discography, the band was a perpetual “almost there” of the USBM scene. In the 5 years since then, not much has changed. The band has remained mostly underground, but a recent shift in record label to Season of Mist, and a coveted spot on the Cannibal Corpse North American tour, has suggested a shift towards widespread recognition. Are the perpetual bridesmaids of American BM about to have their own wedding?” Black wedding.

Vananidr – Beneath the Mold Review

By Doom_et_Al on November 7, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, 12 comments

“You know those people who you’re not exactly friends with, but who you’re happy to see whenever they enter a room? That’s been my experience with Swedish metallers, and spelling-mistake waiting to happen, Vananidr. First catching my eye with sophomore effort, Road North, it was the follow-up, Damnation that really put them on my radar. This was second-wave black metal with that something extra: in Damnation’s case, the ability to shift styles cohesively and compellingly. A murky production held it back, and, to be honest, it faded in my memory a bit. Nevertheless, when I saw Beneath the Mold lurking in the promo pit (alongside a predictable misspelling of the band’s name), I was intrigued.” Breaking the mold? Mould?

Amputate – Dawn of Annihilation Review

By Doom_et_Al on October 20, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, 17 comments

“The Boss Ape looked perplexed. ‘Why is my favorite reviewer…’—My grin widened—’…of basement-dwelling, one-man, atmoblack projects choosing to cover death metal?’ I gingerly pointed him to AMG policy 5a: ‘Man cannot live by black metal alone. Thou shalt expand thine horizons.’ He nodded suspiciously and slipped Amputate’s second album, Dawn of Annihilation, across the desk. ‘You’ll be pleased to note that there’s no falsetto,’ he added. ‘Just try not be an ass-clown about this one… or it’s more Minipony for you.’ Wheelhouse or pony stall?

Ellende – Ellenbogengesellschaft Review

By Doom_et_Al on September 30, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 37 comments

“If much of post-black metal maintains a chilly distance from its listeners, Ellende has always—for better or worse—worn its emotions on its sleeve. And these emotions are some of the most mournful in all of black metal. The problem in the past was that the execution was lacking, which dulled the impact. Shifts on previous albums were inelegant and clunky, sapping momentum; the interludes were intrusive; the fuzzy production obscured rather than highlighted. But with every new release, Ellende have been honing and improving their craft, and Ellenbogengesellschaft finds the band finally cracking the code.” Pearls before swine.

Wyrms – Sarkhral Lumænor – La Lueur Contre les Fléaux Review

By Doom_et_Al on September 24, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 23 comments

“Let’s get one thing straight with these guys: avant-garde, avant-schmard. Unlike many French compatriots, wacky innovation is not the name of the game here. Wyrms stick rigidly to the melodic template which has been honed to a fine sheen since Dissection and Sacramentum first did their thing. Sarkhral Lumænor is about as modern as a jousting contest, and as subtle and flexible as chain-mail armor.” The wyrm you know.

Gaerea – Mirage Review

By Doom_et_Al on September 21, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, 88 comments

A new Gaerea opus triggered a rare double review. Can the much anticipated Mirage withstand the harsh light of double exposure?

Träumen von Aurora – Luna and Aurora Review

By Doom_et_Al on August 25, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 7 comments

“Indecisiveness. Tragic flaw of many of art’s most enduring characters: Hamlet, Holden Caulfield, Spongebob Squarepants. It was also the feeling I got when I first listened to Luna and Aurora by German post-black metallers, Träumen von Aurora (Dreaming of Aurora). This looks, smells and is packaged as a double album, with Spring (Aurora) following darkness (Luna), a neat inversion of The Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. The band, however, bills Luna and Aurora as their third and fourth albums respectively. Stylistically linked, released on the same day, but definitely separate albums.” Double troubles.

Aerdryk – Met De Drietand Op Mijn Huid Review

By Doom_et_Al on August 15, 2022 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 27 comments

“The mighty founder of this blog once famously said, “Atmoblack is just 2 riffs drawn out over 60 minutes with some reverb and synths.” Those of us who are fans pushed back, at the risk of a considerable tongue-lashing. “But it’s about the atmosphere, see? Riffs are not the be-all and end-all. Mother nature is a vibe not a riff.” The matter was never resolved, but after the bruising back-and-forth, both sides retreated to lick their wounds. It was with this in mind that I approached the debut album from Dutch band Aerdryk, Met De Drietand Op Mijn Huid (With the Trident on My Skin).” Atmoblech.

Sedimentum – Suppuration Morphogénésiaque Review

By Doom_et_Al on July 25, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, 57 comments

“Sedimentum is a Quebecois quartet that gained underground attention with their 2019 demo. There was something particularly unhinged and delightfully filthy about the whole thing that turned a lot of heads. Now, in 2022, we have their first full-length, Morphogénésiaque. Anyone with even a passing familiarity with death metal will have an inkling of what’s coming before a single note is played. The gloriously grotesque Brad Moore cover art, the Latin-y sounding name with more than a passing resemblance to Mortiferum, the malevolent-looking band moniker, all point to a band that isn’t here to fuck around or “subvert your expectations.”” Filth farmers.

Alburnum – Buitenlucht Review

By Doom_et_Al on July 14, 2022 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 12 comments

“Certain things just go together. Prawn and avocado. Holdeneye and 4.0s. Ozzy and Black Sabbath. You get the gist. Two of those things are “black metal” and “nature.” From its early pagan roots, black metal has always had a close affinity with the great outdoors, rejecting rigid theism for a more atavistic, mystical spiritualism. It’s why half the shitty black metal videos you see happen in forests or on mountaintops. New Dutch band, Alburnum (another name for “Sapwood”) are therefore trodding well-worn ground; when compatriots, Fluisteraars have an album with flowers all over the cover, you’re going to have a tough time out-naturing the competition.” Play outside!