Dark Descent | 9-3-15
Oh cool, another space based black metal that fits along side of…wait….death metal? ARE THOSE FUCKING SKULLS FLOATING AROUND SATURN? Blood Incarnation comes via Dark Descent whose label and short history is more than enough to vouch for this Colorado three piece. Death metal has been exciting in the past 10 years and Interdimensional Extinction expands on the styles diversity at least in terms of atmosphere and thematics.
Birdrune Records | 9-4-15
Nechochwen is interesting for many reasons. First of all it takes a little bit just to pronounce their name correctly. Secondly, they are a black metal band who have whole heatedly thrown themselves into the plights and history of Native American lore. Thirdly, they take a folk approach to their music with acoustic instrumentals, war sounds, and searing black metal thrown into a fire. American folk metal is a long time coming and details are still being hammered and tinkered with.
Iron Bonehead | 8-28-15
It was only after admiring the cover for Creeping that I soon stumbled into a weird and tangled web of New Zealand based extreme metal. Creeping’s cover was made by handyman Jamie Saint Merat who not only plays drums for Ulcerate but also did design/sound for a bunch of related bands including Abystic Ritual and The House of Capricorn. Those two bands are sort of the two parts which make up Creeping. If a voucher from Iron Bonehead is not assurance for this band’s third full length is not enough, then put your trust in New Zealand’s ability to make no nonsense darkness.
Self Released | 7-14-15
Oh this is horrible — in the best way possible. From an area that isn’t super well known for caustic black metal infused with punk comes a demo which has been out for a few months lying in wait for unsuspecting passerbys. I am wondering how I missed this the first time around but the subsequent playing made me never forget the violent images and sounds. Human Bodies is terrifying from the fact their pictures have them in masks to the guttural deathcry on this short 12 minutes.
Self Released | 8-10-15
Oh Dear. Germany’s Thurm lies on the border between many different genres and directions. While there is certainly different pulls towards screamo, black metal, hardcore, and noise, all of these coalesce into a big cartoon ball of fighting which eventually drops off a comically large cliff. The subsequent tumble and hellish aftermath is where Thurm really shines. somewhere between madness and understanding lies a fantastic debut from an unknown four piece.
Self Mutilation Services | 6-16-15
It is fitting that Inhumane Minimalism, the second record from Grecian black metal duo Human Serpent begins with almost no fanfare. In fact, “The World In Coffins” starts almost immediately almost with disdain that you were not already listening. This immediacy is a corner stoner of a record which wastes little time getting down to business. This business maybe a systematic and visceral dissection of hope and happiness.
Self Released | 8-20-15
I want you to take a deep breathe and count to three. By the time you exhale, you will already be surrounded in a deluge of drum blasts and snaking guitar riffs. If anything it is interesting about Kutná Hora and the fact they are Israeli is the possibility of there being a silent but growing traditional black metal scene in West Asia. Sure there is always bands like Melechesh but Kutná Hora upcoming show with Dim Aura and Eretz makes the possibility of unsigned Israeli black metal more tangible. If all the music is this fierce consider me interested.
Self Released | 7-3-15
Hot damn, its another release by the wonderfully disturbed act named Barghest. It is always wonderful to see acts which show tremendous promise in the past only to continue doing exactly what they are capable of. I believe I made many mentions of the band’s name and related Dungeons and Dragons imagery as being a goblin like creature hailing from the realm of Gehenna. Since this is the second review, I will refrain from making parallels between such a bad ass creature despite my best wishes.
Naturmacht Productions | 7-26-15
Calling Skialykon atmospheric black metal is a bit misleading for anyone familiar with the term. When one uses the term “atmospheric,” the usual path leads to soaring tremolo guitars and songs about nature and transcendental themes. I guess Skialykon has its fair share of nature themes and tremelo but this one man project seems different. Whether or not it is the moody synth or the slow plodding vocals trails which lead into dark patches of brambles, Vestigio becomes something much different than its siblings. Skialykon soon resembles the ugly child of the atmospheric family.
Fallen Empire | 8-17-15
Back in the waning days of Autumn 2013, Lluvia released his debut Premonición de guerra. This caused a flurry of excitement at least with people like me who already had their top 10s organized and ready to go for the incoming end of the year celebration. Premonición de guerra was raw, hypnotic, and frankly more deserving of attention that what it got in the last month before the new year. Eternidad Solemne has fixed this by descending upon the world in the middle of 2015. Additionally, the singles and previews from this record came out in the early Spring. There should be adequate time to fully process this record. Let us hope that this is enough time. There are no more excuses.