One Master – Reclusive Blasphemy [US, Black] (2015)

Eternal Death | 7-21-15

I knew this day would come. Back int he early years of Tape Wyrm I stumbled on the live release “Live in the House of Quiet.” I even ended the review with a lamentation reiterating that “it is sort of sad I never got to know One Master during a year with a full length but this live record is more than enough to keep scanning the radio waves for a program from the realms of the abyss.” This sort of thought is with me a lot when reviewing lesser known metal. I can not count the cumber of demos and EPs from bands who I wish would come back for a full length. One Master did come back, and it is fucking horrifying.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Kalmankantaja – Muinainen [Finland, DSBM] (2015)

War Against Yourself Records | 5-13-15

I mentioned my frustration at just discovering Kalmankantaja this year despite the fact this Finish depressive black metal band put out 4 records in 2014 with all of them being released from August to November of the same year. Here was a prolific heavy metal act, whose name means “Death Bringer,” that was releasing a billion records without my knowledge. I was furious. Perhaps it is more telling that he band does all their music in their native tongue and has album names which battle with the band name as to be which can more more confusing when spelled out. This was everything I desired in a black metal band.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Arche – Undercurrents [Finland, Funeral Doom] (2015)

Self Released | 7-11-15

Hooray. A band that is not on the Metal Archives so I have no idea what this is or how it is related to anything. It also appears that this Finnish funeral doom band has either just started or is hiding in the thick of obscurity. Undercurrents is probably the first EP from the Finnish three piece which makes the most use from the lack of members. All that is needed is a fresh view on doom and the weight of eternity at your side.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Brånd – Demo 2015 [Austria, Raw Black] (2015)

Voidland Shelter | 7-15-15

Woah. My goodness. There are many things that weigh n the 2015 demo by Brånd. First of all is the realization that a raw black demo from austria made it way through so many obstacles to be appreciated by a modicum of people. Secondly come from the fact that Brånd’s music is cosmetically inaccessible from its photocopied cassette cover to its low fidelity which sounds like a swirling cloud of noise. If one is familiar with black metal as a style, it takes only a few second to realize more things which are happening beneath the surface. I still do not know how this demo made it so high on the Bandcamp list but I am guessing it has something to do with its veiled accessibility.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Nevoa – The Absence of Void [Portugal, Atmospheric Black] (2015)

Altare Productions | 6-29-15

For the most part, location and place of origin is only cosmetic when evaluating music. Sure it is interesting to highlight certain scenes and possible movements based on region and good records from places with other good records is something of note. I would be lying if I said that the fact that this atmospheric black metal record was rom Portugal did not give a reason for a second glance. This is not because Portugal is lacking in heavy metal bands rather that their metal bands seem to be operating at normal capacity with the majority still unheard. This country is about to explode.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Possession – 1585-1646 [Belgium, Black/Death] (2015)

Iron Bonehead | 6-6-15

Oh that’s cool. What is that? Is that a child being sacrificed by moonlight among a group of armored and robed deviants. Amazing. Is that a bell tolling over the sound of rumbling thunder for an intro? You had me at thunder. There are sometimes when an album cover can tell a story a thousand pages long. Possession’s 6 minute intro into their 24 minute EP comes with such tension and grand celebration that it is hard not to get excited when everything breaks into complete fucking panic.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Blaze of Perdition – Near Death Revelations [Poland, Black] (2015)

Agonia Records | 6-26-15

Well, look at that. A black metal band from Poland who writes angular and dense music revolving around themes such as death and spirituality. It also looks like their album cover is a particularly artsy illustration which could probably come from an obscure occult manuscript. Well, it seems like Blaze of Perdition has everything in order and there is really nothing to worry about. These guys got everything covered.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Uškumgallu – Uškumgallu [US, Black] (2015)

Vrasubatlat | 6-12-15

Just what in the Sam Hill is going on in Portland..specifically with two guys from Ash Borer running around making a bunch of noise and releasing cassette demos with abandon. These two gentleman have been responsible for the release of some really decent black, death, and black/death demos int he past couple of years. Urzeit, Triumvir Foul, Serum Dreg, and now the near unpronounceable Uškumgallu is added to the duo’s idiosyncratic list. The interesting part about all of this is that despite Ash Borer being somewhat of a high profile name in the atmospheric black metal crowd and having their last full length sponsored by Profound Lore, these demos come and go without much of any fanfare or even mention. To what end do these two weirdos from the midwest strive for? Whatever it is, I would like to know as I have completely fallen under the spell of un-publicized black metal.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Funeste – MMXV [Canada, Black] (2015)

Self Released | 5-15-15

There is a joke here about not being able to spell Funeste without “Fun.” It works but I feel that it doesn’t make much sense as much as I want it to. Though listening to this recent Canadian black metal demo is quite enjoyable, “Fun” would not be the first which comes to mind. Perhaps “seething,” “wretched” or “hallow with bitter remorse,” would be the first descriptions I would reach for. MMXV is the very expected title from a black metal demo which does more than its fair share of introducing a band’s potential to a greater audience. Hello. This is your ultimate destruction.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Ashtar – Ilmasaari [Switzerland, Black / Doom] (2015)

Czar of Crickets Productions | 4-18-15

Ashtar is cloaked in myteryy and misery. This is partially, if not mostly die to the fact that their debut Ilmasaari is the only thing the Swiss duo has released. Additionally the band is supported by the record label Czar of Crickets who have a roster full of near obscure Swiss metal acts. Add to this Czar of Crickets operates on a year to two year release schedule and one has a record which comes with mystery. These pieces of information are compounded by the fact that Ashtar is a fully competent black/doom act whose album is capable of almost cosmic things.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.