Your No. 1 Source For Extreme And Atmospheric Music And Film.

Author Andrew Doherty

I’ve been obsessive about music since the late 60s and early 70s when during my childhood in Grimsby I used to watch Top of the Pops and bought 7” singles after saving up my pocket money. I really switched to metal when I first heard Dimmu Borgir. The ambience intrigued me, and through magazines and concerts I discovered new territory in the late 90s. For preference I now listen to black metal, heavy progressive music, Scandinavian-style melodic metal and any style which has an edge, or is downright unusual or bizarre. I managed the band Devillish Impressions, which was an exciting time as we had an album but no label or distribution method. We got the label and a European tour with Aeternus, and as the promoter’s plane was delayed, I finished up setting up the band’s first concert in Hamburg on 28th November 2006. I wrote for a while for Live 4 Metal but switched to Metal Team UK in 2007. Like any real music lover, I enjoy going to concerts and meeting people with the same interest and commitment.

ProgPower Europe, JC Sjiwa club, Baarlo, Netherlands 6/10/23

Introduction and Friday 6th October And so we’re back. It continues to puzzle me why I like this progressive lark, and in fact I’ve been coming to the conclusion that I probably don’t. Yet I keep coming to ProgPower Europe… Continue Reading →

Laster – Andermans Mijne (Prophecy Productions)

Laster’s previous and third album “Het Wassen Oog” (2019) impressed me greatly. Black, atmospheric and experimental in a way that different styles were infused but all haunting, spooky and strong on deep psychological disturbance. The Dutch outfit are clearly a… Continue Reading →

Linus Klausenitzer – Tulpa (AOP Records)

Linus Klausenitzer is a musician of considerable renown, but in metal circles is best known for his previous participation as 6 string fretless bass player with Obscura, and as co-founder of the bands Alkaloid and Obsidious. “Tulpa” is his first… Continue Reading →

Virta – Horros (Svart Records)

One of the band members equates the opening pieces of this album to differing and developing landscapes. I translate that as soundscapes. It’s evident that Virta’s self-proclaimed atmospheric and cinematic music is geared to working with sounds, hence I suppose… Continue Reading →

Sühnopfer – Nous Sommes d’Hier (Debemur Morti)

Not really knowing what “baroque black metal is”, I discovered early on that it is a turbulent and frantic adrenaline-related offering at least according to Sühnopfer who throw the kitchen sink at it with odd folksy touches, while adding some… Continue Reading →

Rorcal – Silence (Hummus Records)

Silence is not what we get from Rorcal, whose world is heaviness, dissonance and industrially haunting soundscapes. 17 years on from forming, this is the Swiss band’s sixth album release. Crumbly destruction stands at the centre of the opener “Early… Continue Reading →

Wormhole – Almost Human (Season of Mist)

Around 26 minutes of tech slam with sci-fi horror scenes is upon us from US band Wormhole. Let the onslaught begin. What I immediately liked about this was the distortion and eerie sound backing. My one small criticism of this… Continue Reading →

Psygnosis – Mercury (Season of Mist)

Psygnosis have been prolific since starting out in 2009, releasing six albums including this one. Their style being described as “atmospheric extreme metal with hints of electronic music, the band comes from the French town of Mâcon, which for those… Continue Reading →

Alkaloid – Numen (Season of Mist)

With members from Triptykon, Obscura, Dark Fortress and Obsidious all contributing, this is an interesting band and one which reflects their different styles. Progressive extreme metal is how it gets billed. In existence for 10 years, this is the band’s… Continue Reading →

Blind Equation – Death Awaits (Prosthetic Records)

Modern cybergrind? The discovery of this album by Blind Equation out of Chicago suggests something colourful. What we’re being offered has influences in grind, atmospheric black metal, 8-bit electronics and Eurotrance. Quite a ride, then. Or as they have it,… Continue Reading →

Sodomisery – Mazzaroth (Testimony Records)

Following up on their 2020 album “The Great Demise” this Swedish band has branched out from its core death and back metal mix to incorporate keyboards and in doing so enhance the scope and drama of their offering. Quoted influences… Continue Reading →

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