Germany

Animo Aeger – Ab​-​Fakt [Germany, Black] (2017)

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Cirsium Kollektivet | 6-25-17

By any means necessary. The German outfit known as Amino Aeger may not be a household name but it only takes a few minutes into their work for it to make an impression. Sure this all falls under the realm of black metal but by the first minute of the Ab​-​Fakt EP, the listener realizes that this is not really a release but the ravings of a wild animal and all of the doors are now locked. Continue reading

Nornír – Urd [Germany, Black] (2017)

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Northern Silence Productions | 3-3-17

Hopefully you are ready to run becasue whatever is chasing you is getting closer. From the not so ice bitten lands of Germany comes a band that is less innovative as they are aged in experience. With a decent sized EP to follow their 2015 demo, Nornír steps onto the stage to offer entertaining black metal with the jaws of hades.

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Imperceptum – The Eternal Path to Nothingness [Germany, Black / Funeral Doom] (2017)

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Self Released | 2-1-17

I believe that it is in the interest of most metal to capture a theme or feeling. whether simple or complex abstract or concrete, most heavy metal intends to fill the listener with a focus. The second album from German black / doom outfit Imperceptum does an admirable job at wrapping in the various emotions of existential obliteration. While this sounds like a very niche focus, the sound of stars collapsing and ceasing to be apart of the material world seems to be a destination for this particular band.

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Mortals Path – Mortals Path [Germany, Death] (2016)

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Self Released | 10-02-16

Self Released | 10-02-16

All Hail the sound of tombs cracking from a force wishing to resurrect. Mortal’s Path is from Germany and this group of newcomers does its very best to slide right into the death metal party. From their jagged logo to the black and white cover, Mortals Path tries its very hardest to just be a standard death metal demo without many bells and whistles. Because of this, Mortals Path presents a very humble offering of death metal which sounds like a cemetery rupturing.

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Fyrnask – Fórn [Germany, Black / Avant] (2016)

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Ván Records | 5-20-16

Ván Records | 5-20-16

Black metal? Yes. Rituals? Yes. Angular structures? Yes. Artsy album cover? Of course. A sensing grip of fear and dread? Hell yes! when finding something like one realizes how well put together all of the elements they enjoy being made into one album.On Bandcamp, this album comes wityh the tag of “Cascadian” which maybe fitting only in the deep sense of nature as Fyrnask has hiked out leagues ahead of where other Cascadian black metal bands have stopped and found that weird shrine with all those bones.

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Vidargängr – A World That Has To Be Opposed [Germany, Black] (2016)

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War Anthem Records | 4-29-15

War Anthem Records | 4-29-15

Oh Lord, listen to that sound. If the cover art by fellow German metal musician Alexander Kavtea was not enough indication, A World That Has To Be Opposed is really about that one violent push back against, well, everything. situated in violent brushstrokes, the entire cover plus logo, is painted giving the design a raw and unnerving disposition. Cover art is important ass it is the first impression for most listeners. By this notion, Vidargängr is literally spitting on people who get too close.

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Into Coffin – Into a Pyramid of Doom [Germany, Black / Death / Doom] (2016)

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Caligari Records | 4-8-16

Caligari Records | 4-8-16

Look. At. That. Fucking. Cover. There is a certain feeling one gets when they find a style that clicks with their personality. Into a Pyramid of Doom has everything from occultic obsessions to comic book styled horror. I do not know exactly what it is about Lovecratian monsters looming over Ancient Egypt, but I know Into Coffin knows exactly how I feel.

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Cruda Sorte – Nekrolog [Germany, Black] (2016)

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Nihilistische KlangKunst | 1-1-16

Nihilistische KlangKunst | 1-1-16

Cruda Sorte is a German band with an Italian name. “Cruel Destiny is the moniker for this black metal band which seems to have come out of nowhere expect for the fact they have already had one full length and demos reaching back into 2006. Maybe out of nowhere but when the opening sounds of “Necrologia” begin playing, it is difficult not to excited or at least spams uncontrollably.

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Horns Of Domination – Demo 2015 [Germany, Black / Death / Doom] (2015)

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Self Released | 8-4-15

Self Released | 8-4-15

Horns of Domination is a three piece combo from Germany who seems to have bucked that silly trend of having a bassist in their band. With two guitarists and a drummer, the band has appeared as an unsigned entity now with one self titled demo to their name. I have seen this before. Additionally, with a name like Horns of Domination, I was expecting something I have heard before. It was certainly not this. Sometimes the short format of a demo works in the band’s favor if the music can be so violent that the listener is left with a feeling of horror and surprise.

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Sulphur Aeon – Gateway To The Antisphere [Germany, Death] (2015)

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Imperium Productions | 4-3-13

Imperium Productions | 4-3-13

Holy Gods in the void beyond space, look at that cover. Few times does artwork move me to tears as Sulphur Aeon’s cover for Gateway to the Antisphere. Ola Larsson, who did the band’s previous records as well as Disma’s Towards the Megalith and Death Fortress’ Among the Ranks of the Unconquerable, provides Sulphur Aeon with a unique view into the otherworldly which just by history, should fit the band’s music perfectly.

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