Deathspell Omega

Blut Aus Nord/AEvangelist – Codex Obscura Nomina [split] Review

By Grymm on June 14, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Debemur Morti, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 14 comments

“Ever since the release of 2003’s The Work Which Transforms God, French black metal pioneers Blut Aus Nord took the constrictions of the standard black metal envelope, stretched them out to ridiculous lengths and dimensions, and repackaged them to the point where you only vaguely remember there being an envelope in front of you. In other words, they, along with fellow Frenchmen Deathspell Omega, redefined black metal as we know it.” And here we have a split with a band they influenced mightily. Master and Apprentice if you will.

Throane – Derrière-Nous, La Lumière Review

By Roquentin on May 21, 2016 in 2016, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Debemur Morti, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 16 comments

“Sora’s latest solo affair, the black-cum-experimental-metal outing Throane, appears as a clear extension of his earlier works and digital art. Drawing from influences of bands like Bluts Aus Nord, whom he works closely and often with, Throane’s debut Derriere-Nous, La Lumiere takes the atmospheres and minimalist ambience of Sora’s various other projects such as Treha Sektori and pushes them forward by providing a metallic edge.” The black arts on display.

Grey Heaven Fall – Black Wisdom [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

By El Cuervo on March 3, 2016 in 2015, Aesthetics of Devastation, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Death Metal, Russian Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2015, Black Metal, Death Metal, 20 comments

“Regret. We all experience it in one way or another. Some feel it after a heavy night of drinking before a working day. Others after indulging amorous emotions with an ex’s mother. Me? The regret I feel is for missing great music the first time around. It was in the process of skimming year end lists to uncover my omissions that I was directed towards Black Wisdom by Grey Heaven Fall.” We also regret that whole White Wizzard thing.

Ritual Chamber – Obscurations (To Feast on the Seraphim) Review

By Roquentin on February 25, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Profound Lore Records, Reviews, Death Metal, 17 comments

“Simply put, Obscurations (To Feast on the Seraphim), the début by one-man band Ritual Chamber, is easily an archetype of how “evil” music should sound. Guitar riffs and growled vocals rise from a gutter filled with tortured souls, putrid bile drips from drum kicks and rumbling bass lines, and a general atmosphere of rot and despair fills each and every song. Cliché as it may seem, it’s dread incarnated.” Ready for some dread and breakfast?

Lychgate – An Antidote for the Glass Pill [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

By Roquentin on December 20, 2015 in 2015, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Blood Music, English Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2015, Black Metal, 15 comments

“I vividly remember my first encounter with black metal (Burzum), a music so dissonant and evil-sounding that it left twelve-year-old me completely bewildered and flabbergasted. In metal, it was rare and legendary extremes like Gorguts that came close. Until recently, that is, when my ears were graced by the insanity that is Lychgate’s An Antidote for the Glass Pill.” The weirdness is strong with this year’s TYMHM selections.

Kvltist – Catechesis Review

By Grymm on November 30, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, German Metal, Reviews, World Terror Committee, Black Metal, 8 comments

Ladies and germs, we have come to that time of year where we prepare for the holidays. Trees are cut down and decorated garishly, propped up in living rooms for approximately one month before being tossed aside or used as kindling in your fiery pits of Hades. But us writers? We’re putting together our lists, checking them twice, and solidifying them for all to see. Does German black metal duo Kvltist have the chops to usurp my solidified year-end collection of subjective metal importance with their debut, Catechesis?” Grymm has a list and he’s checking it thrice.

Awe – Providentia Review

By Grymm on November 14, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Greek Metal, Pulverised Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 23 comments

“There is no greater genre for intentional anonymity than black metal. Sure, the music should speak for itself, but you gotta admit that there’s a glut of faceless kvltery going around, and I’m not talking about corpsepaint, either. Hooded robes, gas masks, ski masks, demon masks, you name it, are being utilitzed ad nauseam with mixed results. Greece’s Awe trumps them by not only eschewing with the whole mask thing, but also the whole bandmember-naming convention, as there isn’t a band photo or even a line-up mentioned anywhere on the Interwebz.” Attach the Horn of Shame!

Cold Northern Vengeance – Maelstrom Review

By El Cuervo on November 9, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Black Metal, Moribund Records, Reviews, Viking Metal, Black Metal, Viking Metal, 17 comments

“When I think of blackened Viking metal with influences from prominent Satan-centric places on this great Earth – such as Norway and France – I don’t necessarily think of New Hampshire. I’m no expert in American history so maybe there were bountiful Viking raids on picturesque seaside towns like Seabrook, but I can’t be sure about that. Nonetheless, Cold Northern Vengeance comes bearing gifts of such blackened Viking metal from their cheerful home town in the form of Maelstrom.” Vikings ruined my leaf peeping weekend.

VI – De Praestigiis Angelorum Review

By Grymm on September 27, 2015 in 2015, Agonia Records, Black Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 38 comments

“VI. Yes, yet another band with a name that’s not easily Google-able, but after a month of nothing but doom and “space metal,” I decided I was due for some rather bleak, black artistry. What I didn’t know upon grabbing De Praestigiis Angelorum for review was that the band was comprised of former members of Antaeus and current members of Aosoth and The Order of Apollyon.” It’s like a French pasty full of kvlt!

Antropofago – Æra Dementiæ Review

By El Cuervo on August 9, 2015 in 2015, Death Metal, French Metal, Kaotoxin Records, Reviews, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 13 comments

“France has become quite the hub for memorable extreme music in recent times: Deathspell Omega front a dissonant black metal current; Blut Aus Nord fluctuate between various avant-garde stylings but have been a driving force in modern black metal; Cowards fiercely object to perceived façades of beauty and political correctness in their hardcore-influenced anger. Now Antropofago has stepped up to the mark, attempting to wrestle the tech-death reins from their compatriots Gorod, new material from which has been notably absent.” France wants to be the new Sweden.