The Great Old Ones

Thermohaline – Maelström Review

Thermohaline – Maelström Review

By Dear Hollow on March 25, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Folk Metal, Industrial Metal, 27 comments

“Thanks to that one boozy pirate-themed power metal band whose name rhymes with “Sail Dorm,” it’s difficult to take oceanic themed albums seriously. There are plenty of bands that have torn it up, Ahab showcasing mammoth waves with their breed of crushing funeral doom, Isis displaying the uncaring expanse with shoegaze-y post-metal, and Firtan and Déluge offering some respective symphonic black and post-black to reflect he majesty of the oceans. Scrolling through my black metal collection and each album’s respective themes goes something like this: winter, winter, occult, winter, occult, occult, evil, winter, etc. Oceanic-themed black metal is few and far between, and you’d be hard-pressed to find the good stuff. Will Thermohaline kickstart a new trend or will it end up drowning in its own ambition?” The sea was angry that day, my fiends.

Väki – Kuolleen Maan Omaksi Review

Väki – Kuolleen Maan Omaksi Review

By Twelve on July 14, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, 30 comments

“I enjoy a rather hesitant dance with black metal. It doesn’t take a whole lot to turn me off to a sampling of the style – I’d say I’m pretty picky here. But I just can’t help myself trying. Väki, who hail from Finland and purport a strong fascination with death, are the latest to pique my interest, and I couldn’t initially put my finger on why.” Embrace the grave.

The Great Old Ones – Cosmicism Review

The Great Old Ones – Cosmicism Review

By Eldritch Elitist on October 28, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Black Metal, 74 comments

“It’s tough to sell a band like The Great Old Ones, who from a passing glance could be accused of ad libbing modern metal tropes. Lovecraftian concepts? Obviously. An indulgence in black metal’s modern, atmospheric trappings? You bet. Adorable matching outfits and manscaped beards? Like you even have to ask. Yet the band speaks for themselves. Unlike so many of their contemporaries in the current black metal scene, they morph the stale post-black aesthetic into something monumental and individualistic, a sound that reimagines post-black metal through an uncommonly aggressive lens.” Olde shadows grow greater.

K.F.R. – Démonologue Review

K.F.R. – Démonologue Review

By Master of Muppets on May 31, 2019 in 2019, Ambient Metal, Avante Garde, French Metal, Noise, Purity Through Fire, Reviews, Ambient Metal, Avante Garde, Noise, 63 comments

“As I stare into the night sky, casting wishes and cigarette smoke to a lonely moon, a faint tapping sound breaks the silence and the grip of my reverie. I peer into the surrounding dark, curious as to who or what might be sharing this moment with me, but the hushed scenery offers no evidence of an intrusion. I shrug off this immaterial disruption and redirect my gaze towards my lunar companion, when something catches my eye; there, at the skirt of the moonlit lake that I’ve come to sit and think beside, stands a ghost. Before the icy grip of panic can steer my body into a flight of terror, I realize that this spectre is but a reflection in the water—and I am no less relieved.” Keep your sock puppets inside the ride at all times.

The Projectionist – Visits from the Nighthag Part 1 Review

The Projectionist – Visits from the Nighthag Part 1 Review

By Master of Muppets on October 1, 2018 in 2018, Appalachian Noise Records, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 46 comments

“In the dying throes of September, as the foliage descends with the temperature and the year draws closer to its inevitable demise, the cool breezes of the approaching winter whisper like ghosts warning of death to come; ’tis the season for socially acceptable revelry in the spooky side ov things, and haunts ‘n horrors are in the air in Canada — at least, they were when The Projectionist carved out their seriously sinister sophomore LP, Visits From the Nighthag Part 1.” Hag reflex.

Rise of Avernus – Eigengrau Review

Rise of Avernus – Eigengrau Review

By Eldritch Elitist on January 31, 2018 in 2018, Australian Metal, Code666 Records, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Symphonic Metal, 30 comments

“Labeled as “Orchestral Doom Death” in AMG’s top-secret promo vault, I figured this Australian act would at the very least make for an interesting listening experience regardless of quality, and with Eigengrau being their second LP, it’s more likely that they’d have their ambitious sound already dialed in. Indeed, Eigengrau is far from boring, and even quite good at times, but Rise of Avernus’ identity crisis makes it a regularly frustrating listen.” Symphony of frustration.