Black Metal

Aodon – 11069 Review

By Kronos on March 23, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, French Metal, Releases, Reviews, Willowtip, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 19 comments

“I don’t often review black metal – but, then again, Willowtip doesn’t often release black metal. Those familiar with the label know it for its commitment to releasing brutal and bizarre death metal. The label counts among its ranks such luminaries as Defeated Sanity, Unfathomable Ruination, and has a history with plenty of other bands who push the boundaries of death metal and grindcore. One wonders what Aodon have to do with all of that. Intrigued, and certain in the label’s ability to sniff out quality acts, I decided to find out.” One of these things is not like the others.

Medico Peste – ב :The Black Bile Review

By Dr. Wvrm on March 19, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, Polish Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist Underground Activists, Black Metal, 17 comments

“Medico Peste and I are perfect foils. I haven’t reviewed anything in a while; they haven’t released any music in a while. Following 2012’s promising debut release of א: Tremendum et Fascinatio, one might have thought the Polish outfit was sure to be a tendril in the growing reach of their homeland’s brand of black metal. One would have been very fucking wrong. In fact, given Medico Peste’s lone full-length came out a solid eight years ago now and their only activity in the interim was a 2017 EP, one might feel justified in calling their progress ‘non-existent.'” Biled up.

Gaylord – Wings of the Joyful Review

By Doom_et_Al on March 18, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, Blackened Death Records, English Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 90 comments

“At its core, metal has always been about rebellion. About sticking it to the man, and society at large. About thumbing expectations and demands and just banging your fukkin’ head. But metal is also, for most, an irrelevant beast. In an era of Coronavirus and global warming, singing about Satan and wizards seems quaint at best, and ridiculous at worst. On top of that, metal is generally white. And male. And often not particularly kind to people who aren’t male and straight and white. Into this breach steps the provocatively named Gaylord, with its second LP, Wings of the Joyful.” Big tent metal.

Saltas – Mors Salis: Opus I Review

By Dear Hollow on March 16, 2020 in 2020, Ambient Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Drone, Nuclear War Now! Productions, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 10 comments

“In spite of listening to this stuff for the better part of my life now, I still realize how much I don’t know about so many sub-sub-subgenres, such as doom’s vast array. While I delved into the melodic death flavors of Saturnus, Swallow the Sun, and Novembers Doom, I let the cavernous stuff pass me by. It all comes full circle, when Swedish duo Saltas punishes me with a lethal dose of suffocatingly dense doom to whom comparisons are sparse.” Saltas the earth.

Ruin Lust – Choir of Babel Review

By Cherd on March 12, 2020 in 20 Buck Spin, 2020, American Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 19 comments

“The few times I’ve run reconnaissance to the front lines of war metal—sometimes called bestial black metal—it hasn’t exactly inspired me to take up arms. On paper, the bastard child of grindcore and raw black metal sounds like fun, but the unrelenting frenetic assault often turns tedious for this reviewer. I don’t mind dense music, but I like it smart, and that’s not really war metal’s MO. “Then why are you reviewing a war metal album?” the insolent reader may ask. I’ll tell you, though you deserve no such courtesy.” Towers of noise.

Spectral Lore and Mare Cognitum – Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine Review

By Kenstrosity on March 12, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Greek Metal, I Voidhanger Records, International Metal, Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 47 comments

“I am not a particularly patient individual. In fact, it seems that the “older” I get the less patient I become. With this in mind, I asked myself, “Why. The fuck. Did you decide to pick up the two-hour split between Spectral Lore and Mare Cognitum as your next promo?” It’s atmospheric black metal for heaven’s sake! For two hours! Little did the voice inside my head know that this epic love letter to the planets (and planetoid) of our solar system would be so compelling.” Put a ring on Saturn.

Sicarius – God of Dead Roots Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on March 10, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Black Metal, M-Theory Audio, Reviews, Black Metal, 5 comments

“When we last saw Californian black metal band Sicarius, they were receiving high praise from yours truly for their outstanding debut Serenade of Slitting Throats. I returned to Serenade so its follow-up God of Dead Roots can be put in proper context for this review. This was beneficial, as the differences were in little things – at face value, God of Dead Roots certainly sounds like Sicarius, and Mick Kenney finds himself back behind the boards.” Roots and replanting.

Faustian Pact – Outojen Tornien Varjoissa Review

By Dear Hollow on March 7, 2020 in Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Werewolf Records, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 17 comments

“There’s something intriguing about black metal. While its origins are saturated with violence and its imagery is so defiantly anti-status quo, it’s calmed down significantly over the last decade or so. With more accessible styles like folk and post-rock taking more of a prominent role, it can be difficult to find the trve kvlt style that once circulated the underground in whispered rumors.” Dirty deals.

Dark Fortress – Spectres from the Old World Review

By Ferrous Beuller on March 6, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, Century Media, German Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, 28 comments

“Back in 2014, Madam X covered the release of Venereal Dawn by Bavarian brutalists Dark Fortress. Our Marchioness de Machiavelli didn’t particularly care for the album’s progressive expansion of melodic black metal. I, on the other hand, adored it. Since Morean joined forces with V. Santura, their sonic shade has substantially deepened. The duo’s combined involvement in projects as diverse as Alkaloid, Triptykon, Noneuclid and Hannes Grossmann has wrought one my favorite writing partnerships in extreme metal. Six years on, and Dark Fortress are poised to drop eighth album Spectres from the Old World.” Old world, new blackness.

Canis Dirus – Independence to the Beast Review

By Carcharodon on March 6, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Bindrune Recordings, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 36 comments

“Our sharky hero runs, surgically-repaired legs pumping, swag clutched to his chest. He doesn’t look back. He doesn’t need to. He knows what’s chasing him: a velveteen puppet and a number that is two times six. Eventually, lungs heaving, he sinks down behind a dumpster to study his haul… This, dear reader, is a more a less accurate depiction of what it takes to successfully smuggle something tagged as ‘black folk metal’ out of the promo sump and how I come to be reviewing Minnesotan duo Canis Dirus’ third full-length, Independence to the Beast.” Free beasts and folk thieves.