Akitsa – Grands tyrans [Canada, Black] (2015)

Hospital Productions | 6-2-15

There is a certainly which comes with Akista. One knows before they get into the record that things will most likely come with little refinement and most likely sound like a brick being dropped down the middle of an empty stairwell. This is what Akitsa is and probably will ever be. With all of that said, Grans tyrans sounds nasty like previous records and never disappoints.

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.

Nachash – Conjuring The Red Death Eclipse [Norway, Black] (2015)

Unborn Productions | 2-10-15

Oh man. This is not the Norwegian black you are thinking of. This is something so much cooler. This is atmospheric but not in the way normally attributed to this genre. This is something which is dark but with a completely different attitude. Conjuring The Red Death Eclipse maybe the first release from a band who has still yet time to spread its horrible wings but good goddamn will it be amazing when its fully grown.

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.

Shaidar Logoth – Chapter II: The Ritualist [US, Black/Drone] (2015)

Self Released | 3-1-15

Well, okay. This is something interesting. Shaidar Logoth seems to be the side project for Adam Clemans current front man for the Profound Lore act Wolvhammer and onetime vocalist for Veil of Maya and Steven Henningsgard who already collaborated with the singer for Iron Thrones. Though all bands involved are under the extreme metal umbrella, the work for Shaidar Logoth is something different. Chapter II: The Ritualist continues the band’s near silent lamentation of noise, despair, and complete obliteration of the self.

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.

Nocternity – Harps Of The Ancient Temples [Greece, Black] (2015)

Necroshrine Records | 2-16-15

Wow, ok. This seems to be a record that takes a lot of breathe and explanation before the music even starts. Let us see if we can cover everything. Nocternity is a Greek black metal project helmed by a musician named Khal Drogo. While that name is well known now, the fictional character from George R.R. Martin’s Song of Fire and Ice was less known in the early 2000’s when Nocternity was releasing music. The last full length release for Nocternity was in 2003 with Onyx which was bridged by various EPs and splits. Harps of the Ancient Temples was planned as a third release much earlier but was eventually mired in production difficulty and various recordings. The third full length from Nocertnity is advertised as “black metal from a lost time, from a time far, far way, from a time that is literally ancient.” Though the early 2000’s do feel very ancient in terms of black metal, Nocternity has a romance for something much older.

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.

Kafirun – Glorification of Holy Death [Canada, Black] (2015)

Self Released | 3-3-15

Part of the reason why I enjoy writing these reviews is finding interesting music which may or may not be flying out of others range. Glorification of Holy Death was released in March of this year and has yet to make any sort of large dent. Sure popularity is relative but Kafirun’s angular take on black metal is interesting enough that it could be enjoyed by a large section of listeners — at least the ones who are left after the culling.

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.

Bloodlust – Cultus Diaboli [Australia, Black / Thrash] (2015)

Self Released | 3-20-15

Hell Yes. Hell Yes. Hell Yes. If the sound of Australian black/thrash does not get you excited, you need to spend more time drinking with demons by sacrificial fires. One should do this as the sound of blackened thrash may seem simple enough yet its stylistic theme is subtle in its presentation. Not only is the music designed to be fun and entertaining but it is specifically created to shred ones soul. By means of guitar solo, double drum kick, or just full frontal assault, Bloodlust is not leaving until a limb has been removed.

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.

Eternal Valley – Ascend To The Unknown [US, Black / Ambient] (2015)

Self Released | 3-18-15

Sometimes one knows they are going to enjoy a record. A one man black metal project who self releases black metal records about cosmic themes and obliteration? Yep, this should be simple. Eternal Valley was already halfway in the door just by glancing at previous records and album artwork. The deal was sealed however at the oozing synth which washed over the album’s opener “Path To An Astral Existence.” Sometimes riding on convention allows like minded people to flock in droves to a star which just about to collapse and die.

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.

葬尸湖 (Zuriaake) – 孤雁 (Gu Yan) [China, Black] (2015)

Pest Productions | 3-28-15

A few years ago, I wrote an article on Chinese depressive and atmospheric black metal specifically centered around the label Pest Productions. The label had a treasure trove of wonderful bands from China and also surrounding areas. 葬尸湖 (Zuriaake), 黎明的幻象 (The Illusion of Dawn) , Культура Курения (Smoking Culture), 阴暗之泉 (Dark Fount), and 墓 (Tomb) were some of the bands that came with gloomy album covers with characters scrawled on the front. China, and also Pest Productions has grown in recent months specifically with the weird identity mixup related to US black metal act Ghost Bath. Whatever intentions and misconceptions are related to Ghost Bath and its creators is moot as China is still an interesting place for horrid sounding black metal. If you are new to Chinese black metal, why not start with a release that you probably can not ever get.

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.

Morgon – Black Light of Liberation [Germany, Black / Melodic Death] (2014)

Self Released | 4-13-14

I feel with a looser definitions on what constitutes “new music,” one can find a wider array of material. Example being a well crafted black/melodic death full length from Germany’s Morgon. It was easy to miss this full length since it was self released in 2014 and has only been lightly reissued by small distributors most recently by Obscure Abhorrence Records. While Morgon’s story is not unlike dozens if not hundreds of metal bands, sometimes decent music goes unheard. This is a really good example.

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.

Seme Konj – The Promise of Coffins [Slovenia, Black / Noise] (2014)

Self Released | 4-7-14

For the most part, I really enjoy reviewing new material specifically things that are in the current year. As I have found with lesser known and underground metal releases, dates are sort of flexible when it comes to when an audience will hear it. Take for example and their debut The Promise of Coffins. This release is unmistakably a 2014 record coming out in the early months of Spring. The Promise of Coffins went unheard by the majority of the world until this year seeing a tape / cd release by Glossolalia Records. Make no mistake, Seme Konj will probably be only heard by a few more people but suffice to say that many more people will reveal in chaos.

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.