Bewitcher – Midnight Hunters [US, Black / Speed] (2015)

Heretic Fire Records | 1-5-15

Until black speed becomes overblown and well worn, most practitioners of this style will always be greeted with open leather arms. While the style is steeped in the constructed nostalgia of 80’s speed and black metal, to pull off this sound correctly, a band must have not only the skills to play really fast but also attitude which will instigate a bar brawl. Bewitcher is still at the demo level but three releases in, this US based band is building a congregation which is ready to worship at the altar of engine grease.

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.

Mannveira – Von Er Eitur [Iceland, Black] (2014)

Goddamn it. This would have gone perfectly with the mysterious crop of Icelandic black metal bands that suddenly appeared in the fields of 2014. Sinmara, Naðr, 〇, and Svartidauði were all dazzling and varying black metal projects which were as surprising as they were consistent. Mannveira’s Von Er Eiturwas released earlier in the year but after framing it within the context of other Icelandic black seems to fall in line and make much more sense.

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.

Nihill – Verderf [Netherlands, Black] (2014)

Burning World Records | 12-1-14

Holy god. alright. For the past few years I have sung the praises of Dodecahedron, a dutch angular blach metal band who came out with one stellar record in 2012 and haven’t been heard from since. The vocalist for Dodcahedron, Michiel Eikenaar, was in an earlier band Nihill who have been releasing material since 2007. I know it is difficult to compare two dutch black metal bands with the same singer but trust me when I say the one scary as hell black metal band is different than the other scary as hell 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.

StarGazer – A Merging to the Boundless [Australia, Black / Avant] (2014)

Nuclear War Now Productions | 12-2-14

StarGazer has a really weird history and presence. The band began in the mid 90’s but saw their first release decades later. The members of this collective also share duties in other bands including Mournful Congregation. 2010’s A Greet Work of Ages found its way on many end of the year lists with a large push from then current record label Profound Lore. Nuclear War Now is supporting the band’s third record which continues the development of the space between stars and and madness. In some strange world, StarGazer is the nexus between all forms of metal and everyone has no further need of air, food, and water.

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.

Death Fortress – Among the Ranks of the Unconquerable [US, Black] (2014)

Fallen Empire | 11-15-14

Death Fortress was one the first real gems that I mined from Fallen Empire records. The short track “Master-Deceiver” appeared on the SVN OKKLT tape compilation along side other great acts like Axis of Light, Eos, and Witch in Her Tomb. Aside from having a really cool name, Death Fortress always had an air of stoic underground black metal, complete with black and white covers and lyrical themes centering
around domination. This was a project whose music felt natural and unforced as it already had all of this genre’s power guiding their every move. Among the Ranks of the Unconquerable is the debut full length coming out of a sea of demos, EPs, and compilation appearances. For a band that seems to strive for this cosmic domination, Among the Ranks of the Unconquerable is a fantastic opening
move.

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.

Terra Deep / Hyperborean Skies – Mariposa [US, Black] (2014)

Manicidic Black / Mysterious Stranger | 11-30-14

I have stated before that one of the best ways to look for new bands is through splits. Usually splits will showcase two or even three bands you may or may not be aware of. Sometimes, splits will showcase a couple of bands as well as a new label. Mysterious Stranger lives up to its name as a new label that has one release to their name, which is this one. What Mysterious Stranger lacks in experience they make up for in potential. If future releases are as interesting as the Mariposa split, then I would be more than willing to start collecting libraries of their cassettes.

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.

Wederganger – Gelderse Drek [Netherlands, Black] (2014)

Self Released | 1-1-14

I believe, more than anything, it was the aesthetic which drove me into the rotting arms of this Danish black metal band. Though this band’s demo only comes in two songs, the combination of decent black metal, low baritone crooning, and shrill banshee vocals was enough to sit down and listen to whatever they were saying. Add to this the absolute devotion to Germanic folklore and undeath and they could say anything they wanted and I would be enthralled. Gelderse Drek was released earlier this year but is now seeing release by a small company called Daemon Worship. Thank the floating crypt ghasts this release did not go unnoticed.

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.

Sedna – Sedna [Italy, Sludge / Black] (2014)

Drown Within Records | 10-20-14

Sedna comes all the way from Italy on a very tiny and very new record label called Drown Within Records. I say tiny becasue there are two other bands present with much difference between the rosters. I only make mention of the record label as Sedna does not seem like a band who is finding their way rather one that has a lot of things already figured out. The band’s name, album title, and even artwork may not give any clear indication to what lies inside, yet Sedna’s music conveys a well of information in which the listener finds themselves consumed.

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.

Adversary – Adversary [UK, Black] (2014)

Exitium Productions | 6-14-14

I have made it once of my prime directives to find as much cool stuff from 2014 before the year closes out. I know I will still be finding really good black and death demos for the next few years but at least, for now, I am frantically searching for as much as I can find. These searches are made easier when one stumbles across an amazing label which is devoted to some very dark underground heavy metal. Exitium Productions, which is now closed, has been working for the past two years in putting out some of the most frightening black and death metal. The last remaining demos and full lengths sound the funeral bell for a label that just discovered. Adversary seems like a fitting place to start.

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.

Aureole – Alunar [US, Black / Ambient] (2014)

Fallen Empire Records | 9-29-14

I count my blessings each day that I stumble across a label like Fallen Empire. Here is a label that has consistently been proven to put out, if at the very least, interesting black metal. Additionally, the releases from Fallen Empire are usually either lesser known or completely new talent. Take for example Markov Soroka, who goes by the name M.S. in the project Aureole. Here is a very young newcomer who has taken the past couple of years to seclude himself in a castle of solitude. If the brilliant cover was not enough indication, the album Alunar is an institution dedicated to loneliness in the reaches of mystical space.

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.