October Falls

Wooden Throne – Eternal Wanderer of the Night Sky Review

By El Cuervo on August 25, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 25 comments

“Some songwriters have ‘it.’ The ability to create meaningful, compelling music regardless of genre. Mikko Lehto is one such man. From folksy majesty and blackened ferocity to doomy potency, his work, especially October Falls, is well-loved in these parts. 2021 saw the release of more of his black metal in the form of Wooden Throne. Eternal Wanderer of the Night Sky represents his second endeavor under this project, promising something less earthly but more classical with a bigger piano presence in the soundscape.” Meandercore.

Austere – Corrosion of Hearts Review

By Dear Hollow on May 13, 2023 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 9 comments

“Atmospheric black metal has long been relegated to the woods and to the peaks – to the frigid north. Neglected has been another form of desolation. While the abyss has many names, whether nature offers its lush arms of shelter or the lament of desolation can be heard across the cruel cityscapes, we think cold and bleak. When fused with the depressive and suicidal musings of life’s cruel hand, we seek shelter in ColdWorld’s snow-laden shores, smell the whiff of Silencer’s smoking gun, or indulge in Lifelover’s melodramatic puppetry. We typically don’t think desert, desiccation, or aridity; Austere does.” Sand-tyricon.

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!

Enisum – Forgotten Mountains Review

By Dear Hollow on February 18, 2023 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 9 comments

“Say what you will about atmospheric black metal, its popularity is not undue. It was the gentle stream in which I was baptized before giving myself to the rapids, the whispers in the breeze that signaled the storm, and the view of the frigid mountain crest before the cruel ascent. I ventured into unclaimed mysterious wilderness with the likes of Wolves in the Throne Room, Imperium Dekadenz, and October Falls, leading me the cliffs for the view before greeting my plummeting death to the forest floor, laid to rest in the dark soil littered with pine needles. Enisum speaks like the wind in the trees.” Pinecones and pain.

Vardan – No Exit From the Forest Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 1, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, 57 comments

“Do you smell that? It’s the sweet smell of utter devastation that can only come from the ass of the mighty Vardan. Since the band’s start, Vardan has been spewing hate into a toilet of phlegmy depression. The band’s approach is slow and atmospheric, with impossibly decipherable vocals screaming somewhere afar (probably eclipsed by four-foot-wide spruce). But, things have changed for Vardan. Coinciding with the lovely pandemic that has engulfed the world, the band (and the man) seems to be slowing down. Not in the sense of calling it quits but rather focusing on a single release instead of five-plus records in a single year. But, there’s more to this than meets the ear.” Enjoy of deep focus.

Marrasmieli – Martaiden Mailta Review

By Twelve on April 7, 2022 in Reviews, 46 comments

“Nostalgia is powerful. As I write here, I’ve found that I can often remember exactly where I was when I first heard a noteworthy promo, and the ability to relive those experiences through music makes me happy. When I first heard Between Land and Sky, the debut full-length release from Finnish Marrasmieli in January of 2020, I was commuting to work, comparatively new employment that I enjoyed, blissfully unaware that we were not all that far away from everything changing. While the year itself turned out to be less-than-great, the album certainly was, and I came back to it a lot as uncertainty took over. Because of this, Between Land and Sky has a special sort of significance to me, and the news that Marrasmieli has returned with a new full-length album was thrilling.” Wistful introspection and pandemic nostalgia.

Alda – A Distant Fire Review

By Twelve on October 17, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 30 comments

“How was I supposed to pass on that album cover? Gorgeous, gorgeous stuff. That the associated album was labelled as “blackened folk metal”—or “atmospheric black metal” on the trusty Encyclopaedia—was icing on the cake, but really, I was drawn in by the album art. A Distant Fire is the fourth full-length release from the American Alda, which I’m told means “tree” in a language invented by J.R.R. Tolkien.” Tree aggressive.

Iskandr – Vergezicht Review

By Twelve on October 1, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, 23 comments

“Iskandr is a duo hailing from the Netherlands who purport, on their third full-length release Vergezicht, to play black metal with “battle-hardened” aggression and mythical atmospheres. I mean, what a great intro. I was already intrigued when I learned that the band drummer is one M. Koops, who makes up one half of Fluisteraars, a different black metal band from the Netherlands who stole my heart early last year.” Flying the banners of Dutch black metal.

Grabak – Scion Review

By Dear Hollow on April 3, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 13 comments

“I was worried about the metal scene when the world shut down, but a simple glance at the promo bin quells any fear with the rapidity of lightning – if black metal is your poison. Yes, we’ve got our blackened heavyweights that we’ll keep arguing about at AMG Headquarters. But when I predicted that, like cockroaches, small-time black metal projects would emerge from the dust of a silent world to wreak blackened havoc on the underground, I was right. Caliber is another question entirely, but quantity over quality seems to be the name of the game. Will veteran black metal collective Grabak wreak big havoc or be squashed under the sole of my ruthless “JUST CUZ IT’S KVLT DOESN’T MEAN IT’S GOOD MMKAY” boot?” Progeny of the plague.

Harakiri for the Sky – Mære Review

By Dear Hollow on February 4, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Post-Metal, 44 comments

“If there’s ever been a band that reeks of potential, it’s Harakiri for the Sky. Standing separate from twinkly genre-mates with muscular songwriting and a refusal to stagnate, these Austrians have released album after album of incredibly strong post-black that always hinted at true greatness but never quite achieved it.” Mære, Mære, quite contrary.