Tag Archives: black metal

True underground black metal bands used to pride themselves on a few things: sparse instrumentation, evil vocals, and what used to be termed “basement production”. True to form, but from 2013, we’re introduced to War Iron, a band from Ireland. Their EP, Of Prophecy And Alchemy, plods along in a …

Dresden’s Beissert may be deeply steeped in Satanism but they have the ballsy bravura needed to take their belief system out of what would many would regard as the traditional format for ‘black metal’ and take it to a new dimension, combining groove metal, industrial and thrash in a way …

This fourth album from French blackened death metallers Aosoth is suitably dark, punishingly brutal and apocalyptically nihilistic. Built on barbaric rhythms and crushing riffs, topped with the sort of evil vocal that the Lord of Hades himself would struggle to imitate, it’s by turns depressively dirge-like and neck-snappingly fast, but …

Proving that first impressions can indeed be deceptive, Vattnet Viskar, despite their Swedish monicker do not, in fact, hail from the northern wastelands of Scandinavia but rather from the shores of the eastern United States… their name (which translates as ‘The Water Whispers’), however, is a definite homage to the …

While many of their fellow countrymen have sought to adapt traditional Irish mythologies to a more blackened style of metal, Mael Mórdha have deliberately crafted a sound which is very much rooted in the Celtic folk ethic, which gives their approach to the doomier end of the spectrum a more …

Otargos are a French black metal band, and their latest offering, Apex Terror, contains 9 tracks of intense and well-produced extremity. Aggressive, clear, fast, bleak, and highly negative, it’s vaguely reminiscent of fellow Frenchmen Antaeus. “For Terra” slows down enough to really groove; “Remnant From A Long-Dead Star” continues that …

Apparently, the Norwegians (and their Swedish neighbours) have got it all wrong, and have been wrong all along, when it comes to black metal… it’s not all about inverted crosses, burning churches and raping virgins.  At least, that’s the view of the “sexiest man in BM” – the one and …

On “Satyricon”, Satyr and Frost have realized their own roaring declaration of ambition.

Scythe is a three-piece heavy metal outfit from Chicago which was founded by former Usurper front man Rick Scythe in 2010. Old school in their approach, they state on their official website that their sound “incorporates the style of 80’s thrash/black/speed metal, combined with elements of dark atmosphere, classic heavy metal …

The car park of a country pub in what we in this part of the universe refer to as ‘the arse-end of nowhere’ may seem an unusual location for an extreme metal event, but here we are:  in a tent, in the pissing rain, at the back of a pub …

Sweden consistently produces and exports very fine quality extreme metal, and their Manegarm is no exception. Compared to the band’s previous releases, this one will appeal to a wider audience, both because of the more universal English language, and a greater emphasis on mid-tempo crushers. The songs are very dramatic, …

Despite having been around, in one shape or form, for almost a quarter of a century, and being one of the most respected but under-rated acts on the Swedish black metal scene, it’s hard to believe that this is only Grief Of Emerald’s fifth full length album… With their more …

Right from the outset, this fourth album from Finnish thrash metal five piece Gloria Morti is a bruising, punishing affair, treading a path between thrash and death metal, with elements of BM thrown in for good measure. It’s not that the band can’t make up their mind which sub-genre they …

Wardruna deliver a sophomore album with roots that delve deep into the very fabric of our existence. For people unfamiliar with Wardruna, they were formed a decade ago by Einar “Kvitrafn” Selvik in Norway. Their encapsulating use of ancient folk instruments alongside poetic metre and chanted lyrics written in Norwegian, …

In Mortis Veritas is a one-man French black metal project, with the man in question being the extremely mysterious Non Serviam, or The Dark Nazareen. Recorded over a two year period, this debut album is a dark and dense affair, and as mysterious as its creator.  Arising from an ethereal …

A collection of photographs of Enthroned’s (Belgium) show in the Voodoo Bar, Belfast. Support from Ceaseless Blight (N.I.) and Mourning Of The Heretic (N.I.). Photographs by Marc Leach Photography – http://www.marcleachphotography.com             %%wppa%% %%cover=557%%

Sink hail from Finland and have been torturing humans with their mix of black metal and drone for ten years. The band lurks somewhere in the dark reaches of your mind that is only presented when that blackened room is opened. This is an album that defies categorization. It is …

As the tourists from near and far trudged through the winding streets of temple bar, taking pictures of themselves as Leprechauns and buying Irish souvenirs made in china, there was something else about to erupt just a stone’s through away – Redemption Festival. A true demonstration of Irishness and tradition …

I’ve often accused black metal of being staid and derivative, content to rest on its laurels:  but, part of the excitement which initially drew me to what I regard as real darkened extremism was the way in which BM artists were prepared to experiment and push their boundaries to their …

Necrosadistic Goat Torture are a black/trash metal band based in London. The band began in 2003 and were originally fronted by a female vocalist, Talkea. She was later replaced by Polish vocalist, Bartosz Jacyszyn, in late 2008, allowing the band to progress to a heavier sound. Necrosadistic Goat Torture have …