Bathory

Grymm’s Top Ten(ish) of 2015

By Grymm on December 22, 2015 in 2015, Blog Posts, 39 comments

“2015 has not been the best of years for yours truly, with car accidents, challenges, setbacks, and death upon death upon even more death dropped into my unwilling lap. I was ready to rain supernova-warm hellfire upon this calendar year, but thankfully, a much-needed vacation with friends just this past week helped to deaden the pain of all this negativity the year had brought upon me. Musically, it’s been quite positive and productive. October alone was a monster of a month for metal, as you can see by my list. So despite all the negative garbage, at least the soundtrack was incredible.”

Helheim – raunijaR Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 6, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Viking Metal, Black Metal, Viking Metal, 14 comments

“I feel quite confident when I say that Helheim might be one of the most underrated Viking metal outfits on the planet. There weren’t too many Norwegian black-metal bands in the mid ’90s pushing the Viking sound as hard as these guys.” Hel, hel to Norway!

Vreid – Sólverv Review

By Madam X on November 2, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Indie Recordings, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 25 comments

“Those who remember my review of Vreid’s rambling Welcome Farewell will remember that they arose from the tragic end of Windir. Vreid’s sound bears some similarities to Windir’s warring black metal roots, but it also goes beyond that. They’ve honed a black ‘n roll sound that’s loaded with repetitively catchy riffs and melodies that bludgeon in their familiarity and overuse.” Who’s up for some overused bludgeoning?

Myrkur at The Underworld, London Live Review

By El Cuervo on November 1, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Blog Posts, Danish Metal, Folk Metal, Post-metal, Black Metal, 48 comments

“Amalie Bruun has had mixed reviews in her short stint making music in the metal community. Garnering critical acclaim from the organic, free-range, caramel mocha chocamericano-flecked Macbooks toted by the illustrious writers at Pitchfork, she has been rejected quite forcefully by those who are truly metal with vastly superior opinions.” To fully examine Myrkur’s kvlt bona fides, we deployed the ground troops.

Havukruunu – Havulinnaan Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 23, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Folk Metal, Naturmacht Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 27 comments

“Let’s be honest; I’m as excited for Abbath as my son is about his new Optimus Prime Halloween costume. Ever since hearing about Abbath’s new venture, my fellow scalpel wielder (Dr. Fisting) and I have yet to cease our musings of grand times spent with Immortal and the one-hit-wonder that is I. It’s bad enough that I’s Between Two Worlds already gets a shitload of playtime on the Grier IPod, but lately it has been even worse [I worship that damn album. – Steel Druhm]. So, what the hell does this have to do with anything? Paint yourself like a black & white cookie and follow us to the mountains!

Corpspazm – Corpspazm Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on October 15, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Black Metal, Broken Limbs Recordings, Crust Punk, Reviews, Black Metal, Crust Punk, 18 comments

“The pulsating surge of the retro wave has turned music reviewing into what’s essentially the Antiques Roadshow. We listen like the appraiser examines a piece, looking for authenticity, craftsmanship, and the overall condition of the music. We then describe our findings and you lovely folks read about them, some of you coming here every day, some once a week, and some seduced now and again by the masterful and sultry click-baiting some of us excel at.” Just look at that veneer!

The 3rd Attempt – Born in Thorns Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 23, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 48 comments

“When I heard Tchort put together a black metal band that combined elements of Carpathian Forest and Blood Red Throne with those of Gorgoroth, Immortal, Bathory, and even Motörhead, I nearly shat myself. After a decade trying to fill the empty crater in my achy-breaky heart with more of Nattefrost’s sadomasochism, I’m stoked to hear the master-behind-the-riffs unleash a sultry combination of all he is; black thrash, blackened rock ‘n’ roll, Scandinavian death, and a variety of surprising twists.” Its time to strap on the assless chaps again and take a run through the forest.

Horna – Hengen Tulet Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 19, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, World Terror Committee, Black Metal, 35 comments

This post has been removed because it promoted Nazi or Nazi-adjacent metal bands or musicians. We apologize.

Nechochwen – Heart of Akamon Review

By Steel Druhm on September 12, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Bindrune Recordings, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 84 comments

“I’ll freely admit to having thrown up my hands and walked away from the majority of black metal over the past five years. Whatever drew me to the style in its infancy with Bathory and onward through Emperor and Darkthrone has all but died. I’ll still pay attention to releases by the big names, but for the most part I’ve given up the ghost. One of the rare bands that still holds a special place in my nonblack heart is West Virginia’s quirky and obscure Nechochwen.” It’s time to get your ass into the Spirit World!

Yer Metal Is Olde – Bathory – Hammerheart

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 27, 2015 in Black Metal, Blog Posts, Swedish Metal, Viking Metal, Yer Metal Is Olde, Black Metal, Viking Metal, 84 comments

“”Spirituality” is a word that causes many people to assume the focus of the coming conversation will be one of a religious context. But I find the word to be broader than that (so does Webster’s Dictionary).” And this old chestnut has a lot of spirit.