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

Author Martin Harris

Rock and metal have been in my existence for about 30 years and saw me go through a rapid weaning period that covered AC/DC, Maiden, Saxon, Whitesnake, Motorhead, etc from about 1982 to 1984 before shifting to thrash in the summer of 1984. At that point my only mission was to find the fastest, most violent music on the planet resulting checking out every genre in extreme music from death metal and grindcore to crust punk and hardcore all of which I still adore today and buy albums from and go see live. During the 80s I grew up in the infamous Bradford thrash scene, a time I still dearly miss such was the inventiveness and great camaraderie it held. I’m a bit of phase metaller, going from one style to another, through sheer investigation of finding something new, but always sticking with them all. I’m a total sucker for double bass and blast beats and always will be no matter what genre it comes from. I absolutely detest people that have joined the metal scene because it is trendy or their mates like it, likewise I detest people who are shallow and think this music is a fad of growing up. Most of us are extremely well educated and articulate individuals who prefer freedom of self expression than indoctrination by mass media organisations hell bent on artistic sterilisation. Much of my cash is spent on following metal and I wouldn’t change a thing about it because it is the best music scene in the world.

Darkness – The Gasoline Solution (High Roller Records)

About 30 years ago Germany’s Darkness released a trio of very good thrash albums starting in 1987 with “Death Squad” followed by “Defenders Of Justice” and “Conclusion & Revival” in 1988 and 1989 respectively that were part of the second… Continue Reading →

Leaves’ Eyes – Fires In The North (AFM)

I have to admit to very mixed feelings about reviewing this EP with new vocalist Elina Siirala in the ranks after the shock exit of Liv Kristine late last year. Rumours, whispers and various stories have done the rounds on… Continue Reading →

Cryfemal – D6S6nti6rro (Osmose)

Heading up this outfit is the prolific Ebola whose contagion has mutated through various other bands as Cryfemal itself arose from Agaliareth pre new millennium. Since that time there have been six albums plus various splits and EPs during the… Continue Reading →

Athorn – Necropolis (Dr. Music Records)

Originality is often scarce in metal these days as most topics have been covered in one shape or another via various genre platforms. Conceptually raking the undead subgenre via a different premise of impending annihilation with subsequent effects after a… Continue Reading →

In The Woods – Pure (Debemur Morti Productions)

The reformation of Norwegian avant-garde and progressive metallers In The Woods in 2014 was highly anticipated as the band released some of the most challenging and wholly satisfying albums in the 90s operating on the fringes of the Norwegian black… Continue Reading →

Aum – Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum (Iron Bonehead Productions)

If you follow labels like I do then you’ll be well aware that anything coming out from Iron Bonehead is usually some of the filthiest diabolical music on the planet and here they do it again with the mysterious and… Continue Reading →

Stilla – Skuggflock (Nordvis / Bindrune)

Translating the album title as “Shadowpack” this is the third full length from this inventive Swedish avant-garde black metal act whose album cover conjures up notions of mysticism and chilly autumnal mornings where mist and dew blanket the air. Being… Continue Reading →

Dakhma – Passageways to Daena (The Concomitant Blessings of Putrescing Impurity) (Godz Of War Productions)

This debut from Swiss blackened death metallers Dakhma was released early in 2015 but has now got a physical release via a nice digipak format. Everything about this album is mammoth, the song titles, the production and the duration as… Continue Reading →

Demonic Obedience – Nocturnal Hymns To The Fallen (Satanath Records)

George Ntavelas (from Greece but now residing in the UK) is the sole member behind Demonic Obedience delivering a blackened death metal sophomore that drowns you in a viscous malevolent assault. Opening with “Create The Shapeless” the gentle guitar work… Continue Reading →

Carnifex – Slow Death (Nuclear Blast)

Reading album reviews of the deathcore scene has taken the approach of slating them without justification on both the digital and printed media to the point that it is tedious and serves no purpose to the outlet or the band… Continue Reading →

Despised Icon – Beast (Nuclear Blast)

Back in 2010 Canadian trailblazers Despised Icon called it quits after their final show in Montreal and it was a major blow for fans of the deathcore scene as arguably the band was at the heart of the genres formation… Continue Reading →

Blood Red Throne –Union Of Flesh And Machine (Candlelight)

Flying the Norwegian flag for death metal Blood Red Throne have doggedly survived various genre insurgents since their formation and release of their debut album at the turn of the new millennium. Often overlooked even though the band has had… Continue Reading →

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2024 Ave Noctum — Powered by WordPress

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑