2024 is already showing much promise in the new releases unveiled so far, but before delving into their substance, I wanted to take the opportunity for a long overdue reflection on some highlights from 2023. Despite a lost hope for humanity sustained by the ongoing social, political, and economic farces of these times, which the powers that be now don’t even bother orchestrating discreetly, Metal continues forging ahead with monumentally creative forms that transcend the turmoil. They conjure more favorable variations of madness that are readily available, and also still relatively affordable, with the aural myriad of this selection capturing just a small sample of the greatness materialized over the past year. Besides the solace attained from music and a few other recreations, hopefully those claims of our circumstances being about to improve, because they can’t get much worse, are correct.
Most of the works I reviewed could’ve easily been included on this list, but some of course stand out among others, and the aim was to feature a range of atmospheric and stylistic qualities, from primal to futuristic, and traditional to progressive, while recognizing both established and underground names, along with personal preferences. Except for one entry, their order remains mostly arbitrary, and each possesses elements speaking to different moods as they arise. A focus remains on full-length albums here, and because life and time remain out of balance, a number of these releases were not reviewed, even though reviews for them were intended at one point. I greatly appreciate the support, and also the patience, I’ve received so far, and especially to anyone who actually reads and finds value in my posts, thank you! Hopefully they reflect my dedication and serve as a small contribution to this supreme artform, and be assured there are explorations of this year’s infinitely dark regions firmly underway.
DECOHERENCE Order
These UK industrialists reach darker regions of oppression during a third full cosmic encounter, with its void radiating hostility from different warped and ominous vibrations throughout, and their intrigue extends to many details glimpsed within lightspeed riffing blurs. That turbulence fluctuates for mechanized beats to heighten the captivation surrounding entranced melodic currents, and other strings echo psychedelically across the expanse, which finalizes an allure toward bleak futuristic visions that persists across our spacetime course.
SERMON Till Birth Do Us Part
This Turkish horde was resurrected after a long hiatus, and their first full opus captures all the splendor from eras past, with many evocative textures woven throughout its crushing funereal mass. They seamlessly pair melancholic tones with intoxicating melodies and lead effects, along with an aural scope expanded by organ keys and other atmospheric notes, and the inherent poeticism is further immersed during spoken parts for a work of epic magnitudes and a welcomed return.
DREAM UPON TOMBS Palaces of Dust
A pleasant surprise appeared through these Australian specters, who’ve taken their unique otherworldly essence to new levels of immersion on this first full-length manifestation, and its structures continue to haunt with cathedralic and catacombic splendor. They exhibit a melodic vastness that weaves melancholy among heavy grooving rhythms, and vehement points of attack also arise along with the reflective atmospheric halls traversed during keyboard interludes, which collectively offers an experience of both grave and grand renown.
FARDEAUX The Den Has Become An Abyss
These French maestros have capitalized on three independent tracks with their full-length debut, and it hones a distinct sound through the warped and abrasive distortions tormenting within. The allure extends to its cold riff masses and other aural hallucinations, where turbulence and entrancement are then intensified by different rhythmic forces, and other euphoric points complement the many tones of malignance and anguish evoked in the arrangements. This effort exhibits levels of complexity that create a lasting draw toward its currents, and I look forward to diving into whatever abysses they devise next.
KRIEG Ruiner
A high mark for US black metal comes with the return of KRIEG, who’ve advanced their craft on this ravaging new output while further concentrating a nihilistic and misanthropic core. Many evocative progressions are formed through its disharmonic layers, which are often infused with a mesmerism from ethereal melodic shapes, and spectral elements also invade the bleakness for an attack laden with tormented designs. Its storm occasionally breaks for rhythmic dynamics that bring other alluring disturbances to the surface, and vocals command another wrathful exercise over the collective to reassert this entity’s unrelenting presence.
THANTIFAXATH Hive Mind Narcosis
This psychosis-induced trip from THANTIFAXATH sees their songcraft taken to another twisted level of intensity, with many arrangements exhibiting multi-layered disharmony and courses that require insanity to navigate. They include the captivation seized at points where strange waves are traced over demented fret patterns, and these proliferate with a turmoil matched by the dark oppression gathered in the riffs. Vast aural encounters formed through other features also raise the torments to greater states of awareness, which produce maddened impressions and an experience that strikes with lasting traumatic appeal.
MORK Dypet
The latest opus from MORK presents its own mythos alongside the expanding musical vision of Thomas Eriksen, with a cover art that also perfectly captures the dreary melodic and atmospheric hues formed within, and these are concentrated into harsh masses with layers of interplay that bring greater depth to the experience. A balance is achieved between dissonant attacks and evocative lead arrangements, which are enhanced further by rhythmic dynamics and some calculated synth infusions, and their impact is undeniable while driving repeated dives into this new abyss.
HØSTSOL Länge Leve Döden
The debut release from this collaborative order was one of the first to curse 2023, and its malign essence prevails through many striking forms, where points of menace and despair are harmonized between elevated melodic or arpeggiated specters and oppressive riffing. These are effectively haunted by different ambient manifestations, and their dynamism further invades certain progressions with ethereal forms of gloom, while this tormented array is paralleled in the visceral and versatile force of Kvarforth’s vocals. The focus here on revitalizing classic black metal elements forwards a deathly appeal that remains irresistible.
NYRST Völd
These Icelanders continue to carve a mighty name for themselves on this second opus, which expands an immersion with hostile lands by joining volcanic activity to their frozen and storm-battered regions, and a capacity for raising mesmeric structures and auras is fiercely demonstrated to reflect those elements throughout. Many different spirits also manifest within its chasmic depths, and they become channeled in effects around the orchestrations and dynamic vocal techniques to create evocatively harsh, melodic, and majestic combinations. This experience of both natural and supernatural wonders endures along with an eagerness for what other sonic manifestations may lie ahead.
RAVENOIR Cultus Inferi
These eminent blasphemers of Czechia have further mocked the trinity by unleashing a third consecutive opus, and its rites are distinguished for a compositional shift toward slower paces, but they prove equally vital while magnifying the blackened radiance from mighty atmospheric and riffing auras. The melodic and soloing elements also become more prominent among those rhythms, which reflects the multitude of possibilities within RAVENOIR’s unique sonic realm, and the level of nightside splendor exhibited here is sure to expand their infernal cult.
HELLRIPPER Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags
This Scottish entity kicked the year off with a third full venture into blackened thrash territories, and it may be their most striking effort yet as fierce energies charge ahead vocally and through razor-edged riff attacks. That vitality extends relentlessly to detailed melodic patterns and effects, along with shredcraft exhibiting mesmeric and virtuosic levels of proficiency, and the grand auras they conjure are further marked by features that include bagpipe sections on the title track. This collective is ultimately likened to a mighty quest that seizes new high attainments for the genre.
SHINING Shining
A few high-profile musicians were gathered for this latest antihumanitarian act from SHINING, and the result combines elements from some of their strongest material with a new edge that strikes like the burden surrounding fatal self-inflictions. Many haunting forces radiate from its riffs, where a malign and glaring cold persists over areas of pronounced oppressive blackness, and various melodic notes bring further complications while the dejection peaks through euphoric soloing. These tones are effectively compounded during acoustic parts and sections featuring other aural dynamics, and Kvarforth’s vocals are on point for an effort leaving 2023 in total ruins.
PROFANATICA Crux Simplex
Christ’s crucifixion reached another level of scorn during PROFANATICA’s newest mass, and their minimalist approach still proves effective for channeling various perversions and sacrilege, with many deceptively intricate riff and rhythmic patterns developed within an abrasive attack. The production on this one captures a favorably disgusting tone, which is especially magnified when slower paces radiate the doom of low-end afflictions, and vocal defamations compound the torment for an execution marking absolute triumph for the dark side.
RUÏM Black Royal Spiritism – I – O Sino da Igreja
The first offering from Blasphemer’s latest project brings a striking approach to the black arts, which joins elements of past incarnations alongside his experience with Umbanda, and this Brazilian occultism is pronounced at points where drums beat ritualistically around haunting arpeggiated melodies. The Maniac-era of MAYHEM is fittingly tributed through certain vocal styles and also a reconjuring of “Fall of Seraphs,” and the thrashy and chaotic forces driven throughout are matched by other powers highlighted during slower passages. Aural traces are notable in reinforcing the darkness atmospherically, and the formidable sound captured here will be intriguing to follow into future works.
ASET Astral Rape
This international order seized an immediate influence over both mind and body with their debut manifestation, which channels a modern blackness through its venture into the most hidden of Ancient Egyptian practices, and many captivating torments are charged by the dark and wrathful energies within these rites. They carry spectral melodic currents and arpeggiated menaces that continue to haunt, along with other turbulent forces driven from the vocal and drumming versatility, and distinct ceremonial passages expand the auras for a possession striking with unbounded appeal.
HENGET Beyond North Star
A mind-altering trip through the unknown is always welcome, and these Finnish psychonauts become ideal guides for such a venture on their debut, which induces many alluring states as its course unfolds. The combinations of various synth doses and intricate melodic forms have produced lasting effects, with some notes reflecting dark ordeals alongside frenzied riffs that tear past ordinary perception, and the euphoria extends to other enchanting auras with a shamanic spirit to further mark this revelatory journey.
MARDUK Memento Mori
It’s been a few years since we heard from the legendary MARDUK, and peace is thoroughly slain as their latest campaign rages ahead with a merciless resolve. Its concept is fitting after the last two WWII-themed releases, and havoc is wreaked through an unrelenting stamina while also integrating some novel tactics within the attack. There are imposing aural forces that bear down amid the frenzy of “Blood of the Funeral,” along with a striking rhythmic formation noted during “Marching Bones,” and the last rites of “As We Are” feature some leadwork heightened by a bagpipe-like effect, sealing a grim reminder of our mortality that is well worth remembering.
THY DARKENED SHADE Liber Lvcifer II: Mahapralaya
The third full-length and second part of a masterwork from this Hellenic force was one that started the year off on a powerful note, and it also lives up to the expectations set by part I, with a technically proficient songcraft forging compositions laden with malign currents and chaos. This is achieved while maintaining a high atmospheric substance, which is woven into melodic formulas and then enhanced through choral or other aural features, and the Luciferian grandeur emanating from their depths completes a work of unlimited exploratory potential.
ONE MASTER The Names of Power
These US occultists brought forth possibly their most concentrated work yet, with some acoustic parts and different aural subtleties rising notably from its mass, and this expanding craft is further demonstrated alongside rhythmic dynamics that promote many evocative forces throughout. They are driven viscerally across the abrasive but also ethereal substance, which remains highly favored while notes of dread are imposed by dissonant forms, and other striking variations of shadow are revealed among comparatively upbeat points with leads and melodic progressions weaved into the madness. The arcane wonders here attain a degree of potency that confirms The Names of Power as a supreme achievement for the black arts.
TERRESTRIAL HOSPICE Caviary to the General
A late discovery on my part came in the second full assault by these Polish nihilists, and it continues the destructive path of their past outputs while forwarding its own vicious edge. The fierce and visceral essence projected through its compositions is compelling by itself, but it goes even further when maniacal textures arise within the havoc, which also involves darker levels reached through calculated atmospheric and vocal torments. These elements form many striking arrangements for a work of dissonant and rabid misanthropy that quickly became a favorite.
THE MAGUS ΒΥΣΣΟΔΟΜΩΝΤΑΣ
The prolific Magus has carried out the first dark act from his next artistic incarnation, and it drives a mighty legacy with formulas wielding measures of extreme and classic elements. An epic mass unfolds as the compositions weave chaos and trance across their serpentine paths, where ancient spirits preside over choirs and other aural features that enhance the rites, and vocals are then key to an unrelenting malice and contempt drawn against humanity. These immersive scenes also strive to illuminate through the shades of blackness and despair, which all conspire to offer a profound exploration of the arcane.
SULPHUR AEON Seven Crowns and Seven Seals
The Ancient Ones have always received fervent praises from this German cult, but their latest offering delivers some of the mightiest exaltations yet, with chaos and melodicism wielded to intoxicating effect within its formulas. These strike with a crushing power in riff masses while different string and aural elements maximize the abyssal undercurrents, and other effective draws into those depths are timed through riffing and percussive interactions. Progressions continue with vocal dynamics and leadwork bringing a sense of regality to the rites, which succeed decisively in raising abominations that prompt a glorious end for humanity.
VARATHRON The Crimson Temple
The Hellenic legends continue asserting their epic status with another journey through realms of ancient mysticism, and it sustains the distinguished sound they forced alongside other pioneering acts from the region, with classic riff and rhythmic formulas that also expand into many compelling structures. These groove and flow in ways to elevate the melodicism and leadwork channeled within, and vocals match the pronounced vitality radiating throughout each rite, where further allure is evoked in the traditional instrumental elements capturing Mesopotamian or Egyptian spirits. This mighty aural gathering proves undeniable for a temple destined to carry out the most satiating of blood sacrifices.
DØDHEIMSGARD Black Medium Current
New offerings from this Norwegian act are a rare occurrence these days, but a remarkable sonic experience is certain when they arise, and Black Medium Current stands as the next monumental addition to their discography. It seamlessly combines experimental and blackened elements, with a hostility and bleakness coalescing amid the mesmerism of its vast outer regions, and a cosmic euphoria is marked through synth and melodic lines for an opus playing profoundly like the soundtrack for warped perceptual states.
DEMONCY Black Star Gnosis
If one release were to eclipse the others to some extent, it would have to be the newest curse from DEMONCY, and I will also cheat and mention the EP Diabolica Blasphemiae along with it, as together they mark one of the most significant occasions in music for myself this year. Though not a perfect offering, Black Star Gnosis still recaptures a sound with the mystique that intoxicated on one of their more timeless works, which speaks directly to the pronounced teenage nostalgia I’ve been experiencing lately, and there are many potent formulas within to assert its status here besides those nods to the past. The EP projects a variant malign dose that extends the shadows while taking the overall craft even further, and both have been regularly revisited since being cast upon our material realm. They’ve undoubtedly filled a void that’s been expanding over the last several years, but the dark hunger remains insatiable, and hopefully DEMONCY will return again in a much nearer future.
themisanthreport.com 