Category Archives: Album Reviews

          A fascination with the universe can match the infinity of space itself, and this allure naturally attracts bands within a genre of endless possibilities like Metal. One such project is led by sole member Jacob Buczarski, and nearly five years after 2016’s Luminiferous Aether, MARE COGNITUM has returned with the next full-length cosmic explorationContinue reading “MARE COGNITUM Scorches Deep with Solar Paroxysm”

           The blackened vision of Thomas Eriksen became manifest in 2013 with Isebakke, a necrotic album debuting one of the most relevant names in the modern Norwegian scene. With each subsequent release, MORK has channeled new energy into the classic Black Metal sound while further developing their own, and now, just two years afterContinue reading “MORK Leads with the Riff on Katedralen”

            Germany’s THE RUINS OF BEVERAST have returned with a new dark adventure titled The Thule Grimoires. This prodigious Black/Doom project of Alexander von Meilenwald is known for its dense compositions and diverse conceptual soundscapes. Beginning with the raw, depressive Blackness of Unlock the Shrine and progressing to the spaced-out psychedelic Shamanism of Exuvia, eachContinue reading “THE RUINS OF BEVERAST Enchant with The Thule Grimoires”

            The Hellenic misanthropic force, HUMAN SERPENT, has steadily risen up the metal ranks with each release, and now they’ve unleashed their fourth full-length album titled Heirlooms Eternal. This release undoubtedly reinforces the band’s upward trend, and they’ve also described it as “the darkest and most experiential” and “most aggressive, soul-suffocating and mind-destructive album.“ TheseContinue reading “HUMAN SERPENT Strikes in Contempt on Heirlooms Eternal”

          The raven has a wide range of symbolism across cultures and mythologies. While primarily associated with ill omens and death, it can also represent many other qualities including wisdom, creation, and magic. A similar range of diversity is reflected in the music of RAVENOIR, a new incarnation led by guitarist/vocalist Alesh AD and bassistContinue reading “RAVENOIR Harnesses the Void on The Darkest Flame of Eternal Blasphemy”

            Another great release for this year comes from VÖLNIIR in the UK. This band first appeared in 2017 with an EP titled The Enigma, and now they’ve released their first full-length album, All Hope Abandon. Its arrival happened to coincide with the recent blizzard in my area, which is fitting because All Hope AbandonContinue reading “VÖLNIIR Reveals All Hope Abandon”

          These Netherlanders have been creating their own breed of Death Metal and Doom since 1987 and need no introduction. Their work has been well-received since the beginning, even gaining support from none other than Euronymous and Dead of MAYHEM at a time when the Norwegian scene was starting to rebel against the trends ofContinue reading “ASPHYX Brings the Doom and Groove on Necroceros”

            The new year has just begun and things already look promising from a Metal standpoint. Sweden takes the Black Metal lead with MALAKHIM, a newer band whose name dually involves angels and messengers. They’ve released two EP’s and a live recording since their formation in 2016, and these have finally led up to theContinue reading “MALAKHIM Unleashes First Full-Length Album Theion”

            The circumstances are a little different for this one. I first heard about REIGN OF EREBUS back in 2001 when their debut Humanracist was released. I never got around to hearing it during that time, but their name stuck with me over the years. Occasionally I’d look them up and I remember seeing theyContinue reading “REIGN OF EREBUS resurrects with De Morte Aeterna”

          The German Black Metal force MAGOTH has kept a busy pace over the last few years having now released three full-length albums starting in 2017 with their debut, Anti Terrestrial Black Metal. After seemingly taking a year to regroup after some personal issues they have returned for 2020 with Invictus, which continues further intoContinue reading “MAGOTH Prevails with Invictus”