Black Metal

Antagoniste – The Myth of Mankind Review

By Roquentin on April 4, 2015 in 2015, Avante Garde, Black Metal, French Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Post-metal, Shoegaze, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 18 comments

“The French black metal scene has given us some truly great bands and releases through the years, especially of the avant-garde kind. The likes of Deathspell Omega, Blut Aus Nord, Peste Noire, and even Alcest are still pushing out some of the most interesting and innovative metal music. This time around, it’s the French avant-garde black metal one-man project Antagoniste that introduces a début whose mission is to reach and eclipse the sonic standards set by his countrymen.” Trying to out weird the weird is a tough task.

Éohum – Revelations, Aurora of an Epoch Review

By Mark Z. on April 2, 2015 in 2015, Avante Garde, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Mycelium Networks, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, 6 comments

“As an employee in a soul-sucking government bureaucracy, I’ve heard plenty of hollow buzzwords over the years. But amidst the ‘paradigm shifts’ and ‘synergy’ is a phrase I’ve always thought had actual merit: ‘disciplined initiative.’ Meaning: don’t be afraid to dream and try new things – but maintain quality control. Keep a grip on reality. Don’t fling a bunch of shit around in the name of innovation. It applies as much to the workplace as it does to music. Case in point: Canada’s Éohum.” Prepare to expand your bandwidth with this piece of educational mindshare.

The Order of Apollyon – The Sword and the Dagger Review

By Grymm on March 28, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Death Metal, French Metal, Listenable Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 29 comments

“Hey, remember what I said about supergroups last year? In 2008, there was another conglomeration of established musicians based out of France called The Order of Apollyon, and it consisted of B.S.T. (Aosoth), James McIlroy (ex-Cradle of Filth, Chaosanct), Peter Benjamin (ex-Akercocke, Voices) and Dan Wilding (Carcass, Trigger the Bloodshed). Such a who’s who of death and black metal would create a whirlwind of head-twirling mayhem, right?” Super groups…when will they learn?

Liturgy – The Ark Work Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on March 28, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Black Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Thrill Jockey, Black Metal, Experimental Metal, Rap Metal, 31 comments

“Whenever anyone proposes that an artist, album, or condiment is something I’ll “love or hate,” I feel an intense compulsion to remain ambivalent about whatever art, music, or Marmite they’re talking about. “You don’t know me!” my brain spits, “your artificial dichotomy is patently absurd, and I’ll prove it by maintaining a neutral and balanced view!”” Objective, subjective. Love or hate. This is the life of the metal reviewer.

Negură Bunget – Tău Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on March 26, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Lupus Lounge, Prophecy Productions, Reviews, Romanian Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 12 comments

“Apparently I don’t read the metal news enough, because I had no idea that (a) a new Negură Bunget album was dropping this year, or (b) that it again features an entirely new line-up, with drummer Negru the only constant.” We may not always be your breaking metal news source, but we’re cooler than Brian Williams.

Murg – Varg & Björn Review

By Madam X on March 25, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Nordvis Produktion, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, 19 comments

“The lines are so blurred now. To a large extent, gone are the days when you could look at the geographical location of a band and know exactly what they had in store for you. Nobody made the death of the old order clearer to me than an obscure band operating out of the rural mining areas of Bergslagen, Sweden going under the chic moniker of Murg.” I hate those blurred lines….

Melechesh – Enki Review

By Grymm on March 24, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Dutch Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, 35 comments

“I am absolutely aware that many of you readers have been waiting with overflowing anticipation for a review of Melechesh’s 6th opus, Enki. And who can blame you? 2010’s The Epigenesis was a solid, heavy, and above all enjoyable slab of Sumerian blackened thrash goodness that not only impressed The Big Boss himself, but also got yours truly to go searching through their back catalog to investigate their music further. So when Angry Metal Guy himself handed Enki off to me last week for review, I was frothing at the bit to deliver the goods to you.” The sandy wind, comes blowing in, across the dunes….

Abominator – Evil Proclaimed Review

By Roquentin on March 22, 2015 in 2015, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Black Metal, Death Metal, 2 comments

“Satan-hailing, long-standing Aussies Abominator are back after nine years of hiatus with yet another record of their signature blackened death (or deathened black?) metal. If you’ve listened to any of the band’s previous releases, it won’t come as much of a surprise that their fifth full-length Evil Proclaimed shows no shifts in pace, attitude, or sound.” The Motorhead of Sodom clones? I’m in!

Terra – Untitled Review

By Mark Z. on March 20, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, English Metal, Hibernacula Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 4 comments

“I loved the Cascadian/post-black metal craze, but let’s be honest: that bubble burst at least two years ago. After the umpteenth Wolves worshipper appeared (Addaura, Alda, Ash Borer – need I move past the ‘A’s?’), the mystique wore off and the music turned predictable.” Spring has sprung, and in case the snow hansn’t cooled your outlook, here’s some black metal to further harsh your mellow.

Dynfari – Vegferð tímans Review

By Grymm on March 20, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Code666 Records, Icelandic Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 16 comments

“When it comes to selecting albums to review, I rely on a tried-and-mostly-tr00 method of meticulous selection that’s been proven to garner conversations around water bubblers and soda machines the world over: I sometimes randomly just pick shit from a list and think, “Okay, that’s cool. Let’s give that a shot.” Behold, today’s selection is Iceland’s Dynfari.” In the game of chance, you win some and you lose some. Are the odds in Grymm’s favor this time around?