Tag De Arma
Yep, it’s a bit of a mouthful and no surprise this project is shortened to the more immediate name of LIK. Although they are Swedish, they should not be confused with the death metal band of the same name. I… Continue Reading →
The duo behind De Arma that is A Petterson and J Marklund are responsible for so many great bands between them and De Arma is not the only one they have collaborated on either. Armagedda, Bergraven, Saiva, Stilla, Sorgeldom, Whirling… Continue Reading →
Maintaining a level of prolificity that never feels rushed, Fen are named for the low-lying agricultural marshlands of East Anglia from whence they originally came and subsequently draw influence for their unique brand of progressive post-black metal. Forming in 2006… Continue Reading →
Whatever was written way back in 2002 is long since forgotten and indeed lost but I distinctly remember the impact behind Armagedda’s debut album of Swedish black metal that was ‘The Final War Approaching.’ It was a hefty album of… Continue Reading →
It’s been a decade since last album ‘Till makabert väsen’ from Sweden’s Bergraven. This shouldn’t be too great a surprise though. The band members are all involved in Stilla as well as individually other acts such as Lik, Deranged, De… Continue Reading →
In honour of their region of origin, the EP “Stone and Sea” is “a tribute to the crumbling coastlines of Eastern England and the spirits that lie restless beneath the waters”. Incredibly this is Fen’s tenth release, including the first… Continue Reading →
The etymology of the title being a rough translation from Swedish to “optical illusion”, this fourth album from Stilla is a suitably savage yet elaborate black metal affair. The contradiction of razor sharp guitar attacks complemented by warming keyboard tones… Continue Reading →
It’s not just the music that can be slow and laborious as far as funeral doom is concerned but also the time waiting patiently for it to arrive. There’s no DIY grindcore approach here, one take, a quick thrash and… Continue Reading →
Swedish melancholy folk metal band Saiva have been out in the wilderness somewhere or other concocting the strange old brew of pagan melodies for a few years now. Until now, they’ve dropped the odd single and a split with Grift… Continue Reading →
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 →
I’ve come to realise that the world of Fen contains mystical atmospheres, a great deal of harshness and occasional melancholy in the moody, bleak and windswept landscapes. “The Malediction Fields” (2008) and “Dustwalker” (2012) are two of my favourite albums…. Continue Reading →
Oh hell. There are some times your role sucks and this is one of mine. The problem comes when you get an album to review from a respected record company, with the PR sheet waxing lyrical and philosophical and great… Continue Reading →