Atmospheric Black Metal

Malist – Karst Relict Review

Malist – Karst Relict Review

By Twelve on March 8, 2021 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, 32 comments

“Like distant thunder, the world of atmospheric black metal is simultaneously a comfort and a terror. I’ve been craving new atmospheric music lately. Thinking back, my two most recent forays into its claws have been the most recent offerings by Old Growth and Winterfylleth. Good enough albums, but neither really grabbed me the way I’ve been hoping for. Whether because of too much atmosphere, not enough variety, or just an altogether lack of menace or edge, atmospheric black metal of this particular vein was not all that good to me in 2020. So when I encountered Karst Relict, the third full-length in as many years from Malist, the solo project of one Ovfrost (Bewailer), I was cautiously optimistic.” Malist in Hell.

Forhist – Forhist Review

Forhist – Forhist Review

By Doom_et_Al on February 25, 2021 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 27 comments

“Sometimes, we all gotta get back to basics. When you’re Vindsval from the influential band, Blut Aus Nord, that means returning to your atmospheric black metal roots. Blut Aus Nord has always been an interesting proposition, veering wildly between the avant-garde (The Work Which Transforms God, 777 trilogy) and the traditional (The Memoria Vetusta trilogy, Hallucinogen). While I admire the boundary-pushing stuff, I have a mighty soft spot for those Memoria Vestusta albums, which I think comfortably inhabit the apex of melodic black metal. Forhist is Vindsval’s solo project, and Forhist the debut under this moniker.” Blut Aus More.

And Now the Owls are Smiling – Dirges Review

And Now the Owls are Smiling – Dirges Review

By Emya on January 30, 2021 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, 35 comments

“While padding lightly through the damp forests of local Seattle trails, I’ve encountered foreboding signage cautioning passerby of barred owl swoopings. In broad daylight, owls have been known to swoop down with virtually no sound and claw at the back of people’s heads with their sharp talons, oftentimes drawing blood. Thankfully, I have not yet experienced such a spooky and downright horrifying encounter myself, but I do know of multiple runner friends who have found themselves in one of these harrowing situations. I have little reason to believe And Now the Owls are Smiling’s band name was inspired by the vengeful owls of the Pacific Northwest seeing as the one-man band hails from Norfolk, England.” Hoot force.

Arbrynth – A Place of Buried Light [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

Arbrynth – A Place of Buried Light [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Carcharodon on January 5, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Atmospheric Black Metal, Post-Metal, 37 comments

“It’s nine years since Arbrynth dropped their self-titled debut. At that time, these Australians were a five-piece, playing a brand of folk-inspired, prog-tinged black metal, given an almost symphonic note by then-bassist and vocalist Tina, who has since departed. Scrolling forward to 2020 and their sophomore effort, Arbrynth — now a quartet — have narrowed their scope and arguably been somewhat less adventurous on A Place of Buried Light, which is a 50-minute slab of atmospheric black metal. What makes this such an excellent release, however, is the quality of the songwriting and the depths of emotion it plumbs.” Crouching atmosphere, hidden light.

Old Growth – Mossweaver Review

Old Growth – Mossweaver Review

By Twelve on December 19, 2020 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, 24 comments

“Two reviews ago, I picked up my “last” review for the 2020 calendar year. Now, here I am, submitting my real last review for 2020 about as late as you can submit one, uncharacteristically content with my tardy contribution. I really did plan on being done a couple of weeks ago, but then I heard the first few seconds of Mossweaver and I knew I couldn’t let the year end without shining a spotlight on this one.” Moss peeping.

Afsky – Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

Afsky – Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Doom_et_Al on December 16, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 81 comments

“Every year, the chase is on to find that underground band no one’s ever heard of. The one that you present to everyone who loves music and watch as their expressions change from an unconvinced “Who is this?” to “Holy shit, this is amazing!” Well, folks, for those of you with a taste for pure black metal, unadulterated by frills and ribbons, I have the album for you.” Afsky and answered.

Auðn – Vökudraumsins Fangi Review

Auðn – Vökudraumsins Fangi Review

By GardensTale on October 28, 2020 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 33 comments

“It’s one thing to write a review of a returning band you’ve reviewed before. It’s a whole other ballgame to review a returning band that one of the most respected and revered staff members on the site has covered previously. If their review was controversially critical about a popular young artist well on the rise, the pressure only mounts. Not that I disagree with Grymm’s take on Auðn’s last offering. Being relatively fresh to black metal and its myriad offshoots, I hadn’t heard Farvegir Fyrndar before, but on a cursory spin, the unpopular stance that the production ruined an otherwise very solid piece of Icelandic atmo-black rang true with yours truly.” New day, new production.

Epitimia – Allusion Review

Epitimia – Allusion Review

By Lord Doom on October 22, 2020 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 19 comments

“After a hazy binge of balls-to-the-wall classic heavy metal, I was pleased to see the latest offering from St. Petersburg’s Epitimia land in my inbox. Allusion is my first exposure to the melancholic group and after browsing their past discography prior to spinning this latest outing, I was eager to hear where this next descent into the otherworldly realm of beautiful violence would take them.” Cold comforts.