Post-Black Metal

Harakiri for the Sky – Arson Review

By Mark Z. on February 13, 2018 in 2018, Art of Propaganda, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 1 comment

“If there’s a more promising band out there than Harakiri for the Sky, I don’t know of them. Formed in 2011, this Austrian duo first came to my attention with 2014’s Aokigahara, whose crisp, riffy take on post-black metal was a welcome change from the Alcesty haziness overflowing the genre. My love affair continued with 2016’s III: Trauma, a terrific album that narrowly missed a spot on my year-end list with its lush, gorgeous melodies. Since then Harakiri’s gifted songwriting and unique style have built a rabid fanbase (including both myself and Master of Muppets), making Arson one of my most anticipated records of the year.” Ooooo… the suspense! So much filthy click-bait. I wonder how this is going to end…

Frostreich – Join the Wind [Things You Might Have Missed 2017]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 8, 2018 in 2017, Black Metal, Geisterasche Organisation, German Metal, Things You MIght Have Missed 2017, Black Metal, 40 comments

“Oh, post-black metal. Everyone’s favorite genre to either love or hate on. This little genre is either hyped too much or considerably bashed on by metalheads around the globe. It can be pretentious, it can be repetitious, and a single song can carry on for-fucking-ever. Many times, entire albums revolve around a key atmosphere that, no matter the quality of the songwriting, repeats itself across every track on the album—no matter the runtime or how many songs on the disc. And, when that first fifteen-minute piece hits, people either become absorbed or annoyed within seconds.” Break, like the wind.

Tombs – The Grand Annihilation Review

By Grymm on June 16, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Metal Blade, Post-metal, Reviews, 22 comments

“Three years ago, New York’s Tombs dropped an impressive album in the form of Savage Gold, a seamless meld of post-rock heaviness, Gothic sensibilities, and blackened ichor that yours truly enjoyed tremendously. Since then, guitarist/vocalist/mainman Mike Hill presided over a change of labels and personnel, adding vocalist and synth player Fade Kainer (ex-Batillus), drummer Charlie Schmid (Vaura, Gospel of the Witches) and guitarist Evan Void (Hivelords) to the fold. One thing Hill promises with each Tombs release is to expect the unexpected. With The Grand Annihilation dawning, has Hill found the winning recipe, that sweet spot of blackened Gothic perfection?” Reinventing the tomb.

Sons of a Wanted Man – Black Days Black Dust Review

By Madam X on March 3, 2017 in 2017, Belgian Metal, Black Metal, Hardcore, Post-metal, Pulverised Records, Reviews, Sludge, Hardcore, Sludge Metal, 33 comments

“Who are Sons of a Wanted Man you ask? In short they’re a fledgling band, hailing from Beringen (Belgium). Citing the influence of Gojira, Deafheaven and Alcest, Sons of a Wanted Man dabble in introspective post-black metal, forcibly heavy sludge and raw hardcore with Black Days Black Dust claiming to journey through beauty and frenzy in equal measure.” This looks suspiciously like an EP….

Obitus – Slaves of the Vast Machine Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 5, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Hypnotic Dirge Records, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, 29 comments

“Post-black has often struck me as expressing a decadent sort of misery, one which is more malaise than malice, an effeminate whimpering against the dying of the light. It seems to cry out to the God it vehemently denies exists and beg for a purpose, painting a bleak sort of hopelessness; a musical version of an off-brand Sartre, if you will. Like Sartre’s Roquentin, post-black bands create to find a purpose, but they end up stuck in the slime, accepting the hilariously overstated “death” of God and tradition, whining like Nietzsche’s Last Man for the dull pain of a meaningless existence to stop.” Feel the Nietzsche.

The Great Old Ones – EOD: A Tale of Dark Legacy Review

By Eldritch Elitist on January 21, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, 90 comments

“Lovecraftian atmosphere in music is a tricky thing to nail down. The number of metal bands attempting to emulate H.P. Lovecraft’s pioneering brand of cosmic horror in aural form seems to increase exponentially from year to year, and while many of them come close, most fall short. I believe this is because people underestimate how many elements Lovecraft pulled together to craft his fiction.” Feel the tentacle!

Départe – Failure, Subside [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Kronos on December 14, 2016 in 2016, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Black Metal, 45 comments

“I’ve had my eye on Australian black metal unit Départe ever since they landed an opening slot on the most Kronos-approved tour Europe has seen in the last few years. Jet-setting around the continent with Wormed and Ulcerate is no laughing matte, and all of that exposure before release so much as a demo raised red flags all over the place.” The yearly miss lists are upon us. Take note.

An Autumn for Crippled Children – Eternal Review

By El Cuervo on October 17, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Dutch Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Wickerman Recordings, Black Metal, 36 comments

“And so we return to An Autumn for Crippled Children for their sixth full-length in as many years. I was reluctant to take Eternal, being acutely aware of the ultimatum I set following their last album: evolve or die. Their work was already stagnating, both within their discography and within the album itself for its highly consistent song structures. There is a formula for my feelings towards this successor. Take The Long Goodbye; add nearly 2 years; multiply by duller melodies.” Sleepy autumns and dimming futures.

Harakiri For The Sky – III: Trauma Review

By Mark Z. on July 19, 2016 in 2016, Art of Propaganda, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Post-Rock, Reviews, Black Metal, 44 comments

“As this site’s self-appointed Angry Metal Bottom Feeder, I take it upon myself to devour all the metalcore, post-black metal, and trendy bullshit that I suspect my more evolved brethren often don’t want to touch. I guess part of me still has fond memories of older albums in these genres and continues to hold out hope that new releases will be just as good. While this means filtering through a lot of mediocrity, occasionally I’ll stumble upon a gem that makes it all worth it.” The AMG catfish may have found gold down there in the muck.

Numenorean – Home Review

By Mark Z. on July 12, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Shoegaze, Black Metal, Shoegaze, 77 comments

“Instead of a dull description of the five tracks and 44 minutes of Fen-like black metal on this Canadian quintet’s debut, let’s do something else. Take out a blank sheet of paper, draw a five-by-five square grid, and write one post-black cliche in each square. Ready? Good, because it’s time for POST-BLACK BINGO!” When you play Post-Black Bingo, you win or you…shoegaze.