Author Reverend Darkstanley
Greek black metal has built a universe all of its own over the past two decades and Varathron has provided several of the grandest pillars to that cosmos. Stefan ‘Necroabyssious’ and crew have been bolstering the sheer depth of quality… Continue Reading →
In these times when some corners of the black metal scene feel a bit too much like the musical equivalent of a faithful old Labrador – great company for a cold winter evening walk in the woods but about as… Continue Reading →
After half a dozen albums and splits in the past five years you’d expect Downfall of Gaia to have things nailed down but this latest platter still manages to surpass expectations like a meteor gatecrashing the local firework display. Previous… Continue Reading →
Belgian black metallers Saille have been putting together quite a package over the past few years: nice image and album concepts, high quality playing and a sound that manages to weave its way through a convincing range of second wave… Continue Reading →
It’s nothing short of painful to watch prog-loving extreme metal bands try to fit two ill-fitting pegs into yet more annoyingly ill-fitting holes. I mean, grim and frosty extreme metal and twiddly, fiddly prog – come on… Like watching Pink… Continue Reading →
There are always big hints put about by black metal bands suggesting the worship of dark gods. But very few musicians wear their black hearts so prominently on their sleeves as the driving force behind Thy Darkened Shade. Semjaza is… Continue Reading →
Time for a bit of full-on black metal that exemplifies the best of the Swedish tradition. Nidsang is an occult-ridden riff frenzy that will go down well with fans of any one of Setherial, Watain and Necrophobic. Quite where they… Continue Reading →
‘Hrizg’ is Orcish for ‘pain’ apparently, so it’s fitting that the project is a one-man black metal band, hailing in this case from Spain and masterminded by one Erun-Dagoth. Whilst there are some Mediterranean influences to be found however, for… Continue Reading →
I may be going through a phase of listening to black metal bands that melt my brain rather than just melting my face, but how about something that can do both? Step forward Imperial Triumphant who have been finding ways… Continue Reading →
Zgard’s last opus, 2013’s Astral Glow, managed to make it into my top 10 of the year. Its atmospheric pagan black metal had an ambient, almost meditative edge, while at the same time being crammed full of decent, drifting tunes…. Continue Reading →
Thergothon. Skepticism. Tyranny. All reasons why the mere description ‘Finnish funeral doom’ had me clamouring to hear this album. Profetus do not disappoint. Their style is utterly, crushingly leaden, yet at the same time delicate and airy, with penetrating church-organ-like… Continue Reading →
There are few power metal bands with a signature sound quite like Falconer. The unholy spiritual union of black metal, European speed metal and folk melodies all rolled tightly around the honeyed tones of Mathias Blad. Ok there are plenty… Continue Reading →