Thus Spoke

Words of (questionable) wisdom

Void Dancer – Prone Burial Review

By Thus Spoke on April 20, 2022 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Technical Death Metal, 37 comments

“Metal as a genre is still relatively young. This means both that the meanings and definitions of sub-genres are constantly evolving, and that musicians are continually combining them in novel ways. Void Dancer’s debut Prone Burial purports to be melodic death metal, but is actually more a blend of metalcore and tech death. I’m not mad about it, in spite of being misled, because Void Dancer hit upon something. They manage to do on their debut album what many fail to achieve after several: fuse technicality with punchiness. And they do it in an enjoyable, fairly unique way.” Burn, baby, burn, disco abyss.

Faceless Entity – The Great Anguish of Rapture Review

By Thus Spoke on April 15, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, 21 comments

“The Ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus maintained that fear of death is irrational, for while we exist, our death is not, and when death comes, we do not exist. This hasn’t convinced Faceless Entity, whose brand of black metal they describe as “audial thanatophobia” (fear of death). The Great Anguish of Rapture represents an extension of their dour meditations to their most broadly philosophical release so far, following the more straightforwardly depressive early demos and 2017 debut In Via Ad Nusquam (On the Road to Nowhere).” Fear and loathing in The Netherlands.

Cirkeln – A Song to Sorrow Review

By Thus Spoke on March 28, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Dungeon Synth, Melodic Black Metal, 35 comments

“Some things enter human culture and just don’t leave. What could be a better example than the epic fantasy spearheaded (in the West) by J.R.R Tolkien, spawning countless other artworks and fuelling many an obsession to this day. Similarly, the rise of solo projects within black metal is seemingly indefatigable. Cirkeln combines these two strands—the mainstream and the counter-culture—through a discography inspired by genre heavyweights of each. Tolkien and Moorcock on the one hand, Celtic Frost and Bathory on the other.” Ring of sour.

Vermörd – Nostalgic Predictions Review

By Thus Spoke on March 23, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, 36 comments

“What could it mean to be Nostalgic about a Prediction? As the one implies backward-looking longing, and the other forward-looking anticipation, the suggestion is of a mysterious, conflicted deja vu. Vermörd may not have been aiming for anything other than a cool-sounding quasi-oxymoron in titling their debut LP Nostalgic Predictions. Nonetheless, it provides a suitable metaphor for this album.” Prediction of trouble.

Anachoret – Syndrom Review

By Thus Spoke on February 14, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, 8 comments

“An anachoret—anchorite in English—is someone who has committed to live an ascetic life in solitary confinement in order to devote themselves to prayer. In this way, they reflect the notorious stereotype of the solo black metal musician. Anachoret is no exception, being the solo black metal project of the mysterious K.C. This debut LP has apparently been three years in the making, following a demo, two splits, and an EP over a span of ten years.” Life in a lonely grave.

Sarcasm – Stellar Stream Obscured Review

By Thus Spoke on February 6, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 34 comments

“If you like old-school Swedeath, old-school black metal, old-school doom, then, sorry, you won’t like this album at all. That was my pitiful attempt at sarcasm. The Sarcasm in question here are a Swedish melodic blackened death metal group who have been knocking about since the late ‘80s. Their veteran status in the scene shows they take their craft a whole lot more seriously than their name might let on. It also prompts the question of whether music that follows a blueprint now 30 years old can still be exciting and compelling, particularly to those too young to feel the nostalgia factor.” Don’t cross the streams.

Oar – The Blood You Crave Review

By Thus Spoke on January 20, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 33 comments

“In the multiform sea of interpretations permitted by the tag ‘post-black metal,’ Oar direct their course towards singularly grimy, doom-laden waters. The band borrows from the likes of Amenra and Vous Autres in sinister and savage feeling, though eschewing smooth, reverb-laden tones in favor of a more suffocating vibe.” The real question is whether we can make it through a post-black metal review without a reference to Deafheaven.

Avskräde – Det stora tunga sjuka Review

By Thus Spoke on January 10, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, 62 comments

“It’s perhaps not without reason that romanticizing so-called “trve black metal” has become a meme. Avskräde seem to take seriously the idea that the more blistering, raw, and crusty-sounding music is, the more worthy it is of the black metal moniker, all else be damned. This mysterious Swedish duo presents their debut as an uncompromising slice of the past, containing “nothing but traditional BLACK METAL exclusively.”” Cult is for closers.

Clouds – Despărțire Review

By Thus Spoke on December 8, 2021 in Reviews, Death Doom, Funeral Doom, 65 comments

“You could hardly find a more autumnally appropriate band than Clouds. Their name not only describes the most prevalent meteorological phenomenon of the season, their past catalog, and a band roster filled with members from legendary Funeral, Saturnus, and Shape of Despair has established them as a master of atmospheric doom.” Sure, it’s winter. And yes, this record dropped in October. Did you miss it?