Author Andrew Doherty
The experienced black metal band behind this 20 minute EP are from USA with, as the name suggests, a Finnish influence. Apparently in their early days raw atmospheric aggression was the basis of their sound, but judging by “Traversing the… Continue Reading →
I confess that I’d never heard of Katia & Marielle Labeque’s Minimalist Dream House, but apart from being two acclaimed pianists, it seems that the aforementioned Katia and Merielle were the ones who invited the three musicians behind this work… Continue Reading →
From the ash to fog and rain. That’s where the first two tracks take us on this black metal adventure from Germany’s Der Rote Milan. This is the first time I’ve ever seen the poetry of Charles Baudelaire quoted as… Continue Reading →
This is German dark metal band Freitod’s third album. I remembered the previous one “Regenjahre” (2012), which was compact and powerful yet for me lacked completeness. Listening to “Der Unsichtbare Begleiter” (The Invisible Companion), I find it impossible to get… Continue Reading →
I have followed the black and wintry path of Neige et Noirceur since their 2009 album “Crépuscule Hivernale sans fin sure Les Terrres de Guerre”. and without doubt these Québecois have carved an interesting path of black ambient music. Occasionally… Continue Reading →
I remember thinking when I first heard the old Polish metal band Christ Agony some years ago that it doesn’t get grimmer than this. This debut album from Belarusian band Ljosazabojstwa brought back that thought. “Staražytnaje licha” is more produced… Continue Reading →
Never was an album title so apt as this one. Paroxsihzem just purvey apocalyptically blackened heaviness. Guitars occasionally shriek like wild horses but this is just an exercise in anarchy, chaos and extremity. The vocals are deadened growls rendering lyrics… Continue Reading →
I’ve only been to Sweden once. It was at Easter time and the sun shone throughout. This album by CB Murdoc, which arose from the old black metal band Mörk Gryning, presents an opposite view. It is described as a… Continue Reading →
Terra Tenebrosa first came to my attention when a friend recommended their album “The Tunnels” (2013), which I bought. What I heard then from this Swedish band was dark and grim and representative of hopelessness. A word I read recently… Continue Reading →
My mind wandered to consider how bands I know whose name describes car features. Airbag is a cool name. I’m not aware of any bands called Anti Lock Braking System (ALBS) or Heated Rear Window, so I guess I’d better… Continue Reading →
This is a strange release, or re-release in fact of Opeth’s “Lamentations” dvd in album form, especially given that the albums “Deliverance” (2002) and “Damnation” (2003) from which most of this double album comes, were themselves re-released as a double… Continue Reading →
You don’t normally expect a wispy Middle Eastern section tune to be followed by brutal deathcore, but this is what happens here. In fact a lot happens here. “The Elevation” is an exhilarating mixture of growled ferocity in a Middle… Continue Reading →