Melodic Black Metal

Bornholm – Primaeval Pantheons Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on December 9, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Hungarian Metal, Massacre Records, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 9 comments

“Metalheads saying “I’m a pagan” is, generally speaking, our chosen genre’s equivalent of wine-guzzling middle-aged single women who say they’re “not religious, but spiritual” during those book clubs where Eat, Pray, Love is read in perpetuity. It’s empty posturing made to make someone sound more profound and “enlightened” than they actually are. So-called pagan metal is generally melodic stuff with a lyrical eye to old folklore but, other than that, the definition doesn’t give us a whole lot to go on.” Only join Book of the Dead clubs.

Sons of Balaur – Tenebris Deos Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on October 18, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 20 comments

“Some marketing types like to talk about what they call fast followers, people who capitalize on an idea and make it better or more palatable shortly after the innovator puts out their original product, smartly getting someone else to test the waters for both the idea generally and the flaws in its initial execution. If this is true, then we can safely assume that the “Norwegian” Sons of Balaur weren’t created by competent marketers in a boardroom.” Black metal straight from Dexter’s Laboratory.

Pestifere – Hope Misery Death Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on July 17, 2016 in American Metal, Black Metal, Eihwaz Records, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 14 comments

“Want to hear a bunch of metal bands you probably like chopped up and thrown together in some sort of audial stir fry? The Revenge-y titled Hope Misery Death is here, it’s Pestifere, and now I’m going to write about it.” Black metal salad, anyone?

Record(s) o’ the Month – June 2016

By Angry Metal Guy on July 14, 2016 in 2016, Blog Posts, Record o' the Month, Gothic Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 78 comments

“It’s a blast from the past! That’s right, the Record(s) o’ the Month for June are finally here. And boy howdy, I gotta say that it was tough to get to these. There was plenty of infighting, accusations of me being a distant and cold tyrant. A psychoanalyst was called in. Then the police. Turns out that Steel Druhm may have lots of daddy issues, but he also hates talking about them and has a massive gun collection. We managed to get through this whole thing only slightly injured and now that I’m out of the hospital I’m posting this. So here you have it, Ye Olde Recordes o’ the Monthe for June.”

Thrawsunblat – Metachthonia Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on July 4, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Folk Metal, Ignifera Records, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 93 comments

“Thrawsunblat is a bit more related to black metal than the last two Woods of Ypres records were, but the late David Gold’s influence is certainly felt here. It’s easy to hear some similarities to Ensiferum along with newer Winterfylleth, but there’s a very Canadian element that sets Thrawsunblat apart.” The Woods live on….

Elderblood – Messiah Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 25, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Ukrainian Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 10 comments

“I used to live near a funny little Polish deli, and my mother would often buy meats from there because Poland seems to do quite well in that area, especially sausage. I don’t recall my experiences in that place very well (I was probably about ten the last time I was there), but it’s apparently common knowledge that you weren’t exactly treated wonderfully there unless you were obviously Polish. Sounds like a bit of a strange business strategy, but I suppose the free market can always use innovation, no matter how small or eccentric. Elderblood hails from Ukraine, but judging by how they sound on their second full-length Messiah, they could waltz right into that deli and get lavished with attention and sausages.” Raining Sausage!!

Winterhorde – Maestro Review

By Angry Metal Guy on May 11, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Israeli Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, ViciSolum Productions, Melodic Black Metal, 43 comments

Winterhorde is why labels want bands to release every two years. Back in September of 2010, I reviewed the band’s album Underwatermoon and really enjoyed their well-composed, interesting melodic black metal. My only complaint was that the lyrical tropes felt a little paint-by-numbers coming from an Israeli band; but the music was incisive and gripping. That was, however, six years ago. In that time Winterhorde got signed by Sweden’s ViciSolum Productions—moving on from being the only good band on their previous label’s roster—turned over four members of their band, have continued to develop their sound. I also managed to forget that they exist in the rush of my everyday life, which is why putting out a new album every six years is probably a bad strategy.

Enthean – Priests of Annihilation Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 11, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Unsigned Bands, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 17 comments

“Instead of my usual modus operandi of writing something about food and/or beer and relating it to the band and/or record in question, I’m switching things up a bit and kicking this off with mentioning my biggest issue with American melodic black-ish/death-ish crew Enthean’s new full-length Priests of Annihilation. Writing this review, I kept coming back to G.K. Chesterson’s idea that we don’t have a lack of wonders, but a lack of wonder. This record, as I see it, is a reflection of that.” Is technicality the enemy of wonder?

Sacrilegium – Anima Lucifera Review

By Grymm on March 10, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Pagan Records, Polish Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 17 comments

“A lot can happen to people over time. Take me, for instance; my 20-year high school reunion is coming this year, and I can pretty much guarantee that very few people who don’t follow me on a daily basis are going to have a hard time believing that who I am and who I was are the same people. With plenty of tattoos and hair on my face (and little on my head), I know more than a few heads will turn. Wicher, the debut album from Polish pagan metal barbarians Sacrilegium, also turns twenty this year. Until now, it was the band’s only full-length output, given that the band disbanded in 2000.” So what name tag will these cats get at their reunion?

Frozen Ocean – The Prowess of Dormition Review

By Grymm on February 18, 2016 in 2016, Apocalyptic Witchcraft, Black Metal, Reviews, Russian Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 49 comments

“”New year. New me.” Those four words were uttered by practically everyone on my social media feed at approximately 12:01 am on January 1st of this year. All great and everything, but why must you be entirely new? I, for example, am quite happy being a cantankerous dude whose alter ego is one-half adorable internet meme, and one-half winner of last month’s Record o’ the Month honors. Another thing that won’t ever change is my luck when it comes to reviewing one-person black metal bands.” Grymm is rolling the dice at Casino Vardan.