Melodic Black Metal

Fimbulvet – Portale Review

By El Cuervo on May 2, 2023 in Reviews, Folk Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 11 comments

“Promising Paganistic black metal, and a single that at least piqued my curiosity, I had hoped that Germany’s Fimbulvet might execute on the rousing, fist-pumping feel of my favorite Viking and folk metal bands. I was surprised to find that their new record, Portale, is released close to the band’s 20th anniversary, being their fifth full-length but first in 9 years. There’s a lot to be said about a storied band but equally a lot to be said for a storied band that I’ve not encountered.” Unknown and unknowing.

Stuck in the Filter – February’s Angry Misses

By Kenstrosity on April 18, 2023 in Stuck in the Filter, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Technical Death Metal, 45 comments

Behold! A list of pretty good stuff from February of 2023 that you almost certainly missed! All shall kneel before the Filter and despair!

VoidCeremony – Threads of Unknowing Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on April 13, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Technical Death Metal, 29 comments

“The ghost of Kronos past summarized on the previous word count abusing outing Entropic Reflections Continuum: Dimensional Unravel that “the parts are all there, but they’re not strung together in a sensible way.” So the real question for VoidCeremony is what’s changed? Certainly, it’s not the adherence to the progressive death metal laid out by our forefathers of late Death, Domination-era Morbid Angel, or Pestilence—though the production here is spacious yet modern, but the sound is as dusty and indulgent as you would assume.” When you noodle into the void…

Keep of Kalessin – Katharsis Review

By Maddog on March 29, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 34 comments

“Despite the positive review we gave to Epistemology, Norway’s Keep of Kalessin polarizes the rowdy AMG staff. For reasons I can’t fathom, despite the band’s 30-year history and commercial success, nearly none of my peers has heard of them except Grier, who hates their guts. I enjoyed Epistemology when it came out. Keep of Kalessin’s over-the-top brand of symphonic black metal lacked consistency, but the best parts of the album steamrolled me with a vigor that I still feel eight years later.” Keeping the faith.

Suotana – Ounas I Review

By Twelve on March 26, 2023 in Reviews, Melodic Black Metal, 44 comments

“Finland—is there something in the water? Is the air cleaner, the skies bluer, the nighttime cooler? Really, I don’t know what it is, but when you put the words “Finnish” and “black metal” together, the result is, on average, just better. And no, I don’t have stats to back this up, and I don’t plan on finding any either. All I’m going to do here is explain that between that cover over there and that country over there, I have unreasonable expectations for Ounas I, the fourth full-length release from Finnish melodic black metal act Suotana.” Fin living.

Deviser – Evil Summons Evil Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 14, 2023 in Reviews, Melodic Black Metal, 26 comments

“After exploring the band’s catalog, I’m rather impressed with their ’90s classics, Unspeakable Cults and Transmission to Chaos. Their mid-paced approach to songwriting and clever use of keys and atmospheres have me returning to Transmission to Chaos a lot. Again, while there are similarities to Rotting Christ in the songwriting (specifically the pace of the songs), Deviser was able to carve a place for themselves in the genre. But, as we’ve seen with so many bands in this class, the need to up their game in the symphonic side took hold. The result was two albums that under-delivered and left me cold inside. With Evil Summons Evil, the tries to recapture the days of yore while utilizing today’s modern production and punch.” DeviserER!

Frozen Dawn – The Decline of the Enlightened Gods Review

By Thus Spoke on February 6, 2023 in Reviews, Melodic Black Metal, 65 comments

“As someone allergic to major keys, I find a natural home with metal, which tends to focus on the minor, or indeed, dissonance. We’ve all heard non-metal-listeners in our lives pontificate about how angry metal sounds. We all also know that it can bring happiness no matter how nasty it seems on the surface. Allow me to introduce you to some extreme metal out to prove this with a vengeance. Spain’s Frozen Dawn make their Transcending Obscurity debut with LP number four, a slice of melodic black metal fizzing with rambunctious energy. Polished and fresh, yet still retaining an air of the dark, occult past.” Stay frosty.

Record(s) o’ the Month – January 2023

By Angry Metal Guy on February 1, 2023 in Blog Posts, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Power Metal, 225 comments

January is generally known as a throw away month in the reviewing world. It’s my impression that labels often treat January as a down month following the Christmas holiday. As a result, good new music tends to be slim pickings most years. So, let’s hope that it’s a good sign that the first month of 2023 was uncharacteristically good. There was, in fact, plenty to be excited about! Keep reading to find out all about them!

Inherits the Void – The Impending Fall of the Stars Review

By Thus Spoke on January 30, 2023 in Reviews, Melodic Black Metal, 26 comments

“The middle of the Venn diagram of melodic and atmospheric is where I find my favorite kind of black metal. Sizzling with the energy and catchiness of epic tremolo refrains and blastbeating tempos, and shimmering with veils of synth. If it’s a good example at least. Hence, I rushed to pick up Inherits the Void’s sophomore record The Impending Fall of the Stars as soon as I saw the magic adjectives melodic and atmospheric applied to their black metal style.” Void estate planning.

Orphique – Consécration Cadavérique [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

By Felagund on January 29, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 9 comments

“Consécration Cadavérique is a relatively brief album, clocking in at just over 38 minutes, but that’s across only five tracks, meaning it boasts both a tight runtime and lengthy compositions. I generally avoid the latter in my black metal, as trem-heavy, blast-beaten repetition can quickly grow tiresome, my mind begins to wander and the unrelenting wall of sound quickly becomes indecipherable background noise. Yet Orphique make it work.” Long and short of it.