Demo / EP / Split

ISPUTINAW – THE ELMS ARMS [CANADA, DARK AMBIENT / DRONE / DUNGEON SYNTH] (2021)

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Manidoo Gathering | 12-21-2021

As you enter the thicket and climb the branches, the wind whispers, the stars flicker in the night sky, and the sun’s light reflects off of the moon. The nearby lake is patient and calm while the tributaries are alive and flowing. Isputinaw’s debut demo from 2021 is a portal to a scene of naturalistic sacrality. The second Manidoo Gathering tape consisting of ambient passages from start to finish, the first of which was Gawaji’s “Remnants of Agassiz,” “The Elms Arms” is a testament to the Canadian collective’s ability to conjure immersive aural offerings to Ojibwe animism. The demo consists of a unique combination of electronic styles combined with whispered vocals and a collection of field recordings. These three aspects feel like a representation of a relationship between humans, spirits, and the natural world. Hypnotic droning and the sound of footsteps seamlessly transition into the trickle of a stream and eventually into a crescendo of much louder synth, howling winds, and crashing waves.

“The Elms Arms,” while more mysterious than Gawaji’s earthly “Remnants of Agassiz,” is more grounded than Isputinaw’s cosmic dark ambient 2024 release “Made-Makadedanoo-Bagonegiizhig.” The variety of styles and thematic location in the collective’s ambient work is refreshing and shows flexibility yet they never stray from their strong central goal of creating aural landscapes about the current and ancient relationship to the land and the cosmos.

Olde Bard – Jewels Of The Spidercrown [US, Heavy / Black] (2024)

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Grime Stone Records 4-13-24

I swear to god that I was trying to start reviewing black metal again away from dungeon synth and ended up with a Grime Stone release. This is okay though as this label has been a source of wonderful pleasant sounding music and also what amounts to a basket of rats. Jewels Of The Spidercrown might be the later so enjoy. Olde Bard is from Massachusetts led by Johnny Ugly who was already noted for releasing Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by his other project Spectral Spectrum (cool name) also released by Grime Stone. While the vocals and music sounds like corpse paint clad figures in robes most of the pictures of Olde Bard look like clean cut young musicians who just happen to play first wave black metal and maybe have rats somewhere stowed away. Jewels Of The Spidercrown is a strong EP that shows a group of musicians who most likely can eat fire and play music that sounds like things burning in the background.

Bokkerijders – Silver Dust and Swords Of Gold [Belgium, Black / Thrash] (2023)

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Self Released | 10-28-23

All hail rock and roll. Well, parts of this. Bokkerijders is a black metal band with only one demo released in 2022. Silver Dust and Swords Of Gold is probably a demo but it was released two days ago and their Metal Archives page hasn’t been updated. This feels like a demo or even EP with the two tracks with the title of the release. Regardless of the brevity of material songs like “Silver Dust” reach into the 9 minute territory with a full black thrash track being extended into a dark ambient / dungeon synth conclusion. “Swords of Gold”continues this theme by segmenting a black thrash song with a psychedelic intermission which is both unique and exquisite. I enjoy releases which are utilitarian in their title and Silver Dust and Swords Of Gold is both accessible and blistering. All hail the club in the seventh circle of Hell.

Abjectress – Cryptic Incantations (Demo I) [US, Black] (2023)

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Cult of Oblivion Recordings | 8-3-23

Praise Oblivion

Abjectress is a project by Lolth, a black metal and sometimes synth musician who also runs a label called Cult of Oblivion. Cult of Oblivion is new and Cryptic Incantations seems to be the first demo from the entity. You can only stream on of the songs and if you wanted to hear the rest of this release you can contact the makers for trade / purchase as Cult of oblivion seems to be mostly analog in its making. The label / collective also engages in a lot of pageantry when it comes to names and titles embracing the black metal aesthetic of circles and cults. This might be perfect for people who love a level of mystery when it comes to engaging in acquiring unique metal artifacts. For those who are not, Abjectress and its brand of “improvised atmospheric black metal” is interesting enough on its own. The one streamed track “Ceremonial Bloodthirst” is a howling gust of icy wind which broke through shuttered windows. New labels however small are interesting to watch as they develop their identity and Cult of Oblivion seems to be off to a great start in making me contact them for a tape.

Antediluvian – Vengeance Marches in Sacred Flames​.​.​. [Sweden, Black / Death] (2023)

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Self Released | 7-25-23

This is a Swedish act with the same name as the Canadian Antediluvian on NWN. Bands can do whatever they want but I feel the market for black / death with the name Antediluvian is already crowded. Vengeance Marches in Sacred Flames​.​.​. is the debut demo from the act which has yet to have any information on Metal Archives. What we are given is three tracks which are decent in length are powerful in ferocity. Black / death can be a overbearing at times where you wake up from a haze and ask yourself just how long you have been listening to this wall of noise. Antediluvian manages to break up that monotony with some flair befitting the style. Deep drums, flashy guitar, and of course the vocals which sound like they are echoing from an abyss. This is music for the court of Satan.

NACHZEHRER – Eternal Deities of the Black Hordes [US, Raw Black] (2023)

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Self Released | 2-27-23

There are a lot of things I have to qualify about this release. The self released tag is only because MA lists it as an independent release. The Bandcamp comes from a Virginia based label called Planetary King Records which seems to be defunct. The main MA page lists Eternal Deities of the Black Hordes, as well as a related band Vergewaltiger, as coming from Mamzer Records. Mamzer is the label with the most active YouTube page so by right of proving, I am deferring to Mamzer as the label but still releasing this as independent until things become more clear. When you get to the lower floors of heavy metal, there is some wandering around and investigation which comes with the process of listening to a record. Eternal Deities of the Black Hordes is a decent enough release to warrant this investigation as indicated by the artist’s unabashed love for Satanic Warmaster and black metal that abandons all decorum and modesty. In a short 16 minutes, this act proves to be aware of the aesthetics and vibe and they execute it with grace and energy.

Sigils of Ruin – Demo I [Indonesia, Death / Doom] (2023)

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I usually like to find albums that only a few people know about since I get to be really excited about sharing things. I think Sigils of Ruin already came enjoyed by at least 10 people. Indonesian death has been on the rise for the past couple of years and the style of riff heavy death in the court of bands like Undergang and even Vastum feels like a knockout. It is a knockout and everything about Demo I comes off with such little effort with classic songs titles like Untitled and Untitled II, it is amazing this came without more people knowing about it. I am sure that will change once more time passes. For now grind your face against concrete.

Trüciciel – Promo MMXXIII [Poland, Black / Punk] (2023)

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Self Released | 2-21-23

I am grateful for this release using the naming convention of Roman Numerals being including int he pantheon of underground metal adopting the very familiar naming sequence. Similar to conceptual and minimal art using “Untitled” there is something comforting about a promo being named after the year. Trüciciel is from Poland and the demo/promo for 2023 is actually the second release of their debut EP Syf, groby i demony in 2020. Promo MMXXIII feels like more of a proper introduction. While only two tracks each of the selections hits with accuracy and the album art is simple and effective. This is a perfect place to start with any black metal that has the sound of a clanking hammer buried somewhere in its music.

Extispex / Maeglin – Built in Sanguine Eclipse [US, Dungeon Synth / Raw Black] (2023)

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Witchcult Records | 2-1-23

I have a suspicion that most of the releases from Witchcult Records are from the same circle of artists and / or have album covers all done by one artist. There is a symmetry in each of the J-Card designs that dates back to 2019 and it is glorious. Built in Sanguine Eclipse is different though as one of the artists has a Metal Archives link and with releases on the DS based Ithildin Tape Productions. Built in Sanguine Eclipse is a split between the Extispex and Maeglin, two acts who mix synth and black metal. Both entities are wonderful and exist as a balance to each other. Where on the one side you have a somber ridden 132 minute soliloquy which breaks into black metal and on the other a black metal composition garnished with symphonic synth. Built in Sanguine Eclipse serves as an introduction to two acts who could have remained in the shadows but for this moment have decided to come out and haunt the dreams of its listeners.