Satyricon

Mascharat – Mascharat Review

Mascharat – Mascharat Review

By Grymm on September 18, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Séance Records, Black Metal, 17 comments

“The Venetian Carnival originated in the 1100s as a way to celebrate the overthrowing of the Patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrico de Treven in 1162. Wearing colorful outfits and dancing in San Marco Square, the celebrants retained an air of anonymity by donning elaborate masks, which shortened the gap between the rich and affluent, and the poor and downtrodden. Milan’s Mascharat plays up this influential period in Renaissance history, using it as a backbone for their debut full-length, right down to the fact that almost nothing is known about the band except their location.” No one expects The Venetian Carnival!

Gravdal – Kadaverin Review

Gravdal – Kadaverin Review

By Madam X on August 18, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Soulseller Records, Black Metal, 50 comments

“It was the gorgeous construction of Torturmantra’s ”Mishandlet” (guested by Niklas Kvarforth), that roped me in. This past encounter with Gravdal, and hearing of guest appearances from members of Satyricon, Taake, SAHG, The Ruins Of Beverast, Seven Impale and Orkan along with lyrical contributions by V`gandr (Helheim and Taake) would seem to cement Kadaverin as a “must-hear” release. But does it?” The black metal circus arrives.

Fight the Fight – Fight the Fight Review

Fight the Fight – Fight the Fight Review

By Lord Lucan on January 21, 2017 in 2017, Indie Recordings, Metalcore, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Metalcore, 60 comments

“I’m no wine buff but if I ever feel the urge to get rat-arsed in an upper class, debonair sort of way, I usually plump for a bottle of something French. Why? Well, when it comes to the old grape juice, Pierre just seems to know his stuff. Wine is one of those products that carries with it a particular weight of expectation according to the country or region of the world from which it originates, and in this respect music is not all that different.” Nor-core is a thing?

Sarkom – Anti-Cosmic Art Review

Sarkom – Anti-Cosmic Art Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 8, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 16 comments

“The biggest difference between 2013’s Doomsday Elite and their previous work is the amount of inspiration they brought into every track of Doomsday. They brought in The Kovenant’s Psy Coma to handle the closing orchestral arrangements, Negator’s Nachtgarm for vocal assistance, and the guitars of Keep of Kalessin’s Vyl. And Anti-Cosmic Art is here to take it one step further. The band brings more guests, unleashes more riffs, more blastbeats, and a plethora of guitar solos. The result is Sarkom’s best release to date. ” Is this the Avantasia of blackness?

Root – Kärgeräs – Return from Oblivion Review

Root – Kärgeräs – Return from Oblivion Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 30, 2016 in 2016, Agonia Records, Black Metal, Czech Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 17 comments

“After years of meandering through the comments section as your friendly neighborhood bone-saw (and before as another beloved reader), I’ve had the pleasure of sparing with many of you, upsetting the tight-ass AMG HR department, and making fun of Diabolus for his bad taste in music. Somewhere in the last couple years, one of you recommended Root to me and forever changed my life.” Report to HR to get your life re-changed.

Sektemtum – Panacea Review

Sektemtum – Panacea Review

By Mark Z. on May 24, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, French Metal, Hard Rock, Osmose Productions, Punk, Reviews, Black Metal, Hard Rock, Punk, 7 comments

“I’ll be honest: as a reviewer, I often don’t care how original a band is. Give me a thousand groups like Nails, who take a well-tread style and play it damn well, over any wacky group that artificially cobbles together disparate influences in vain pursuit of originality. To me innovation is something that should result from a band playing the music they love and want to hear, not an end goal in itself. And that’s exactly why I find Sektemtum’s sophomore LP Panacea so refreshing – not because it isn’t original, but because it seems to achieve originality without really trying that hard.” There is nothing new except what has been forgotten.

Retro-Review: December Wolves – Completely Dehumanized

Retro-Review: December Wolves – Completely Dehumanized

By Grymm on April 18, 2016 in American Metal, Black Metal, Earache Records, Retro Reviews, Black Metal, 12 comments

“1996. Yours truly graduated high school and landed a job at what would end up being GameStop. At the Electronics Boutique I was working at (Rockingham Park, Salem, New Hampshire), I would sometimes be visited by a lanky, long-haired dude wearing various different black metal shirts. One shirt was of a band called December Wolves, and I told him that was an interesting name for a band. He smiled and said, “Thanks, man. I’m the bass player. Check us out sometime.” Yep, that’s my story of how I met Brian Izzi (now best known as the guitarist for crusty grinders Trap Them) and got wind of December Wolves.” Tales of wind and wolves shall trap them all.