Author Andy Pountney
One of the attractions of listening to extreme music is that it is constantly evolving, pushing boundaries, incorporating new styles, and in contrast to some other musical genres, bands are generally not content to sit back on their laurels releasing… Continue Reading →
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I am struggling without live music. Over many years it has become an integral part of life and an essential release from the pressures of daily life. However, bands will be… Continue Reading →
’Tis the season to be jolly……Ah wait, someone forgot to tell Fortíð. who have just released their sixth full length. Instead of festive cheer, ‘World Serpent’ is a dark, intense slab of desolate extreme metal that on reflection is perhaps… Continue Reading →
Let me set the scene….It was late at night in Yorkshire, the atmosphere was dense with impenetrable fog, and I was sat alone in front of a fire pit surrounded by dancing shadows cast by the flickering flames. I put… Continue Reading →
Boasting former members of Nordjevel, Alsvartr and Dødheimsgard, I presumed that Varde was going to be a brutal barrage of barbaric black metal. I was wrong. This is a far more measured, almost cerebral, approach to the genre. This is… Continue Reading →
It speaks volumes that the metal community has so readily embraced a cellist into their world. However, Jo Quail is no ordinary cellist. She uses loops of percussive rhythms and orchestration to produce ever increasing layers, giving her tracks an… Continue Reading →
I was relatively late to the Garmarna party, only really becoming aware of them at Midgardsblot a few years ago. Since then, I have been intrigued by their unique brand of eclectic folk rock and have enjoyed exploring their 30… Continue Reading →
When I was sent this album for review, I was promised something “interesting”, and I certainly was not disappointed on that score! As soon as I pressed play, I found myself contemplating the album title and considering how relevant it… Continue Reading →
I listen to a lot of black metal, and particularly enjoy dredging through the underground looking for that new gem. If I’m honest, a lot of the bands all merge into one but back in 2016, I stumbled across a… Continue Reading →
Do you remember when an album release was a big deal, an event, something to look forward to, something that would have you queueing outside your local record shop waiting for it to open? Perhaps I’m showing my age, but… Continue Reading →
Portugal is not particularly well known for its black metal scene and if we are honest it doesn’t really have many of the genres biggest names, but that doesn’t mean the scene isn’t strong. Scratch away at the surface and… Continue Reading →
Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room. Ihsahn, of course, formed and fronted Norwegian black metal icons, Emperor. They need no further introduction. However, since 2006 Ihsahn has focussed his attention on his solo career, and although he teased… Continue Reading →