Black

Anhifohr – Condemned To Endless Sacrifice [US, Black] (2020)

Standard

Self Released | 4-10-20

I feel this EP warrants a little patience. I say this because the whole of Condemned to Endless Sacrifice is ultimately worth the time it takes to get used to the sound. This EP is noisy and rough with its production to the point of abuse. Once one gets past the intro and the intro of the second son however, they are treated to the sounds of groovy black metal in the shape of concrete slabs which are lobbed at them. This is all for fun however as the experience conducted by Anhifohr can only be described as a symphony of psychological terror with monsters stalking in the shadows. There are few polished parts in this EP with songs beginning right away and fading out when they do not need to. Everything though about this EP is part and parcel to the experience of ultimate ruin and demise.

Continue reading

Vazio – Eterno Aeon Obscuro [Brazil, Black] (2020)

Standard

Black Heart Records | 4-13-20

Lyrical themes:Void, Dark Spiritualism, Occultism, Draconian Kaballah, Mysticism, Death. I really appreciate it when a band goes all out there for an aesthetic. Vazio is going for an aesthetic and Eterno Aeon Obscuro is the debut record which will set a stage for a focused debut. I say focused since the work of Vazio, up until this point have been on splits where the complimentary band has not been complimentary in terms of theme and direction. Vazio seems to big for a split and a full size debut with large ceilings seems to be a perfect place for this style of music.

Continue reading

Witch Ward – Sacrificial Monolith [US, Punk / Metal] (2020)

Standard

Caligari Records | 5-1-20

It is true that Witch Ward only has one preview track available. it is true that preview track is 9\around 90 seconds. It is true there are better descriptions out there than just “punk/metal.” It is true, there is a lot of uncertainty about this release that could give moments of pause. This, however, is alleviated seeing it is from Caligari, which is one of the top labels in the trade of absolutely vile material. Through that 90 second preview track, one is exposed to a blistering world of raw insanity that reeks of body odor, stale beer, and grave soil. I will patiently away the release of the whole record but I can already tell its going to be a party in Hell.

Continue reading

Sepulchral Voices – Evil Crusaders [Belgium, Black / Thrash] (2020)

Standard

Self Released | 3-29-20

The Bandcamp for this band states “We are Sepulchral voices and we’re back from the grave” but this should be taken as aesthetic rather than insinuating they are an old band. This is confusing as there is an older band named Sepulchral Voice that plays death thrash. This is not them rather Sepulchral Voices who play black/thrash at the speed of a hurricane which ravages the land. Sepulchral Voices has been around since 2016 and their album covers exude a certain aesthetic of ferocity seen in black/death bands. Evil Crusaders is relentless but not in the grinding concrete style of war metal rather thrash metal that has been possessed by the devil.

Continue reading

Amnutseba – Emanatism [France, Black] (2020)

Standard

Iron Bonehead Productions | 3-27-20

Welcome Oblivion. One of my colleagues gave this full length to me and asked if I remembered this band from a few years back. I have to be honest in saying that my recollection of Amnutseba is relegated to foggy fragments of angular and ruinous black/death. I do not remember much and looking at old demos I am even more confused since I partially remember the cover for Demo II. This could be a phantom band which is a specter sent to haunt me. In any case, Emanatism is certainly able to make an imprint on the psyche as the far out surreal qualities of this record are terrifying and will live in nightmares for many years to come.

Continue reading

Spitgrave – Purge [Portugal(?), Black / Death / Thrash(?)] (2020)

Standard

MIASMA OF BARBARITY | 3-30-20

Miasma of Barbarity is a Portuguese label that puts out really gross things. Spitgrave was the first thing i found from this label and despite its odd looking logo, was two tracks of blistering death/thrash that was like a sledgehammer of riffs in a darken closet. I have put lots of question marks on this entry since I do not really know due to its primitive nature. What I do know is this swings and most certainly leaves a wound behind.

Continue reading

Pagan Moon – Deathlike Journeys [US, Black] (2020)

Standard

Self Released | 3-1-20

Sometimes aesthetic is enough to get you to a place with talent taking up the slack. Pagan Moon leans heavily on the second wave / bedroom / DS / raw / spooky / anti christian aesthetic with a new demo that looks and feels like a black metal demo but is intimately effective through sheer talent. It is through this talent that atmospheric synth can drape over songs like funeral shrouds and give the entire release an air of ghostly presence. This is a ghoulish record that isn’t abrasive or aggressive rather haunting in its structure.

Continue reading

Qual – An Unfathomable Darkness [US, Punk / Black] (2020)

Standard

3-23-20 | Self Released

It is difficult sometimes to parse out where black metal and punk rock meet since its middle is a battleground of trashed vocals and even more trashed riffs. At some point the genres meet in a riotous demolition of sound making it hard to distinguish between the two. Qual fits into this nebulous category as it is just basement punk rock with even more guttural vocals. the funny thing about all of this, is that An Unfathomable Darkness fits so well with its sound. It is groovy in a shredded shirt way and catchy in a bleeding wound sort of fashion. This all is a party with a broken bone and it is wonderful.

Continue reading

Beelzebud – Beelzebud [Singapore, Black / Doom] (2015/2020)

Standard

Cyclopean Eye Productions | 3-25-20

Special note that this 3 song full length from Beelzebud was released in 2015 but as most stories go, its distribution probably never left Singapore. This is okay since now we are going to get a second chance at this unltra bleak black doom record with a band whose name sounds like lame ass stoner doom. Listen, I get it, stoner doom plays at an aesthetic and weed themed band names are part and parcel for the genre. Beelzebud does play stoner doom though in a burned out shell of black metal similar to bands like Cough where the groovy vibes have long since dried and what are left are gnarled roots. Beelzebud also possesses the ability to make 10, 15, 25 minute tracks interesting though their protracted torture of rough production and gang vocals. Whether or not this release is actually 2020 or 2015, it seems to not matter as much as the weight of the hammer upon your head.

Continue reading

Hexenfluch – Aradia [Germany?, Black] (2020)

Standard

Narbentage Produktionen | 4-12-20

I know little about Hexenfluch other than the outfit maybe from Germany and the name may mean Heathen’s Curse. Other than those sparse scraps of knowledge, the only thing I have to hold on is a 10 minute preview track which is both boiling with supernatural energy and swirling with chaotic possession. This tape release is just one of many arcane offerings from Narbentage Produktionen which seems to deal music much in the same way a wood witch deals in poisonous plants and trinkets. Come for blistering black metal but know there is no giving it back.

Continue reading