Tag Finland
In the land of mathematical formulae, Finnish + Pagan + Black Metal will never equal warmth or cosiness, yet while the ambient beginning of this atmospheric adventure suggests cold winds, there is an alluring mysticism in the lapping waters. “Descension”… Continue Reading →
Reviewing this was meant to be a groovy experience for me. I purposefully asked for it the week before I flew to the States for Thanksgiving. The plan was for Jess and the Ancient Ones to lift me onto an… Continue Reading →
In days gone by when the black metal scenes were more or less at war with each other I always felt that in that battle of sonic diablerie the Finnish bands would come out on top due to their uncompromising… Continue Reading →
Atmospheric death metal crew Desolate Shrine have been busy this year with the release of their third album The Heart of the Netherworld in January and now the hard-to-find debut gets a re-issue on Hellthrasher after a little over four… Continue Reading →
As the title suggests, this album is somewhere “out there”. Dreamy hippie sounds from a bygone era with a pleasant rhythm and a smooth song progression make for a calming and hypnotic experience. That’s typified by “Hey Ya Sun Ra”,… Continue Reading →
I have heard so many good things about Swallow the Sun over the years but somehow always managed to miss them when they played live. It’s redemption time now as “Songs from the North” is a triple album, each transmitting… Continue Reading →
Let’s face it, 2015 has been a shit year for doom – sure, we’ve been inundated with boring stoner metal that dons a redneck trucker hat and follows the same cookie cutter formula of rip off, up tempo Sabbath and… Continue Reading →
Silvër Horizon’ is the sixth release by the Finnish quartet Diablo and the first time I have encountered this 20 year old band. Once again I am immediately compelled to comment on the packaging of the CD. It’s in the… Continue Reading →
There is a place far in the North which carries the torch for a particularly ‘orrible, murderous and plain old Satanic brand of black metal. Finland is a place where the obsidian heart of 1990s black metal scene still… Continue Reading →
Amberian Dawn will be well known to those with an interest in female fronted symphonic metal, and this, their sixth album (not counting a re-recorded compilation), sees them evolve further still. Hot on the heels of 2014’s “Magic Forest”, the… Continue Reading →
Dark Buddha Rising brew up a heady mix of influences that can’t fail to hook in a certain section of the metal community – as well as all those who regard the discovery of Nirvana’s darker side and smoking weed… Continue Reading →
I’ll be first to admit that I never really gave these guys the listen they deserved. I think I may have seen them at Wacken over a decade ago, but that’s about it. When you consider they have been around… Continue Reading →