Black

Warlock 666 – Pactum Satanicum [Russia, Black] (2014)

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From the Dark Past | 3-7-14

From the Dark Past | 3-7-14

There are sometimes when a complete jump into the abyss is the only thing which makes sense. When style and themes can guide entire projects it becomes easy to slip into a bottomless well of image. Warlock 666 is a Russian band who has made it their goal in life to sound otherworldly and make music from below Earth’s surface. With the starting point of high Satanism and a general finish line of abject terror, Pactum Satanicum aims for the starless abyss and whatever is being heard, at this moment, are just gurgling screams from the void.

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Etoile Filante – Traité sur le Monde et la Lumière [France, Black / Ambient] (2014)

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Self Released | 3-21-14

Self Released | 3-21-14

I am not going to lie, Traité sur le Monde et la Lumière, the debut EP from French act Etoile Filante is weird. I am going to say this again, em>Traité sur le Monde et la Lumière is weird. It takes 4 minutes into the four song EP to get to any sort of metal instrumentation. Though ambiance and introduction are usually used by metal bands, Etoile Filante concerns itself with sci fi clips and a preoccupation with synthscapes. Though space has been explored in black metal, this is probably the first time I have heard it so cosmic, wondrous, and bright. If one likes Darkspace, it is time to meet their younger and oddly dressed brother.

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Moloch – Verwüstung [Ukraine, Black] (2014)

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Human To Dust | 2-2-14

Human To Dust | 2-2-14

How on earth did I miss out on Moloch? I ask this question because of my intense interest in solitary black metal. I find the style interesting because if left up to ones devices, certain individuals will run so much further than with others with assistance. Moloch was created 10 years ago and has had 11 full lengths, 8 demos, 36 splits, 10 splits and a handful of compilations and box sets. This is addition to a bevy of guest sessions and cover design for European metal bands. Moloch is a machine and Verwüstung is the 12th full length from a creator who seems to need little sleep.

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Plebeian Grandstand – Lowgazers [France, Black / Hardcore / Noise] (2014)

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Throatruiner Records | 3-31-14

Throatruiner Records | 3-31-14

Goddamn it, I love Throatruiner. Since finding this French label a few years ago, my appreciation for the bastard offspring between black, hardcore, sludge, and noise has grown exponentially. What I didn’t understand at the time has now transformed into an appreciation for genre-less heavy music and a recognition for the freedom it promotes. Plebeian Grandstand is a testament to the heights and depths a band can reach when throwing off the shackles of expectation. There is only one goal for Lowgazers, and that is pure annihilation.

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Eos – L’Avalé [Canada / Black] (2014)

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Fallen Empire | 3-14-14

Fallen Empire | 3-14-14

I have not been shy about my adoration for Fallen Empire. Ever since stumbling across the two cassette compilation from SVN-OKKLT, which showcased some fantastic underground black metal including Death Fortress, Witch in Her Tomb, Axis of Light, and Eos, I have been a fan and activley camped out in front of the office doors. Since that compilation, Fallen Empire has released a tremendous amount of material that included the full length from Death Fortress, the massively underrated Premonicion De Guerra by Lluvia, and now a demo from Eos. 2014 seems to be a good year for the Quebec based Eos. What little information is available for this act only adds to the mystery, as their debut demo L’Avalé is one of the better black metal releases of the year.

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One Master – Live in the House of Quiet [US, Black] (2014)

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NoVisible Scars | 1-3-14

NoVisible Scars | 1-3-14

Well, then. We have One Master. From the not so horrid lands of Boston, One Master is a traditional first/second wave black metal band with their eyes focused on the occult. In fact, the cover for their 2006 full length The Quiet Eye of Eternity looks like the last image one sees before ritual sacrifice. This band has the imaginary to go to bat as well as the chaotic disposition to scare their listeners into submission.

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Urzeit – Der zweite Drei [US, Black] (2014)

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Self Released | 1-15-14

Self Released | 1-15-14

I think I would have thought this were a German group if not for catching a few passing mentions of Ash Borer. Urzeit is from Portland, Oregon and contain one of the members in the half atmospheric half second wave black metal act Ash Borer as well as the sludge doom act Hell. Because it is more interesting when outer collaborations differ from the previous acts, Urzeit stands as the orthodox disciple of raw black metal. No frills here, Der zweite Drei is an open wound with gravel rubbed in for good measure.

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Heresiarch – Wælwulf [New Zealand, Black / Death] (2014)

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Iron Bonehead | 3-14-14

Iron Bonehead | 3-14-14

From the arms of Dark Descent Records to the equally loving hands of Iron Bonehead comes the maelstrom called Heresiarch and their second EP Wælwulf. Heresiarch was loosely related to follow New Zealand acts Diocletian and Witchchrist but since then their lineup possesses no connections. The band is free of ties and responsibility and possess a freedom to make primitive black noise. I understand sometimes people use the term “madness” and “barbaric” to describe metal music but it is important to realize what near lawlessness would sound like. It certainly would have the atmosphere yet be entirely without grooves or points for orientation.

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Cemetery Fog – Shadows from the Cemetery [Finland, Black / Death / Doom] (2013)

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Iron Bonehead | 3-31-14

Iron Bonehead | 3-31-14

I usually like to focus on music from the current calendar year but then again, cassette demos are usually timeless. Back in the early days of 2013, there was this Finnish band, who couldn’t decide on whether or not they wanted to be death metal, or doom metal, or black metal. So this Finnish band, whose name is Cemetery Fog, decided to be all three. Back in 2013, the band released their third demo Shadows from the Cemetery which probably stayed in the hands of friends, family, and websites who stumbled on it by accident. Today in 2014, Iron Bonehead re releases this treasured gem for a greater audience. Who knew that while we slept, the sounds of death and doom where being played with gloomy grandeur.

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Sun Worship – Elder Giants [Germany, Black] (2014)

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View From The Coffin | 2-28-14

View From The Coffin | 2-28-14

This right here is the reason that randomly searching the internet for music is one of the better hobbies outside shipbuilding. Sun Worship is an unsigned German black metal band with a release on what seems to be the a start up distribution called View from the Coffin. The surprise with Sun Worship and their debut Elder Giants is the level of craft present in the recording contrasted with the band’s almost non existent exposure. Make no mistake, this is one of the better releases this year and I would have missed if if not for accidentally falling into its cold withered arms.

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