Album Reviews

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    Whispering Void - At the Sound of the Heart (2024)

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    Creating a very unique and intoxicating vibe, today we have Norwegian supergroup Whispering Void and their debut release “At the Sound of the Heart”. Featuring members Lindy-Fay Hella and Kristian "Gaahl" Eivind Espedal on vocals,Ronny "Valgard" Stavestrand on guitars and multi-instrumentalist Iver Sandøy handling the rest, this collective delivers eight magical tracks filled with dark/folk rock influences paired with lush vocal arrangements and enriched instrumentation. Think of Tenhi meets Hexvessel, this release is a gratifying aural experience.

    Opening with the sultry “Vinden Vier”, Lindy-Fay Hella instantly shines as this enigmatic track delivers waves of crafty string instruments alongside dreamy atmospherics and a very hypnotic pace. On “Vi Finnes” the band steps it up a notch with a solemn Gaahl being added to the vocal mix, amongst crafty percussion and a very hypnotic atmosphere. One of the best tracks in this release has to be the eponymous third song, which features some eerie vocal arrangements with a nice Post-Rock-ish vibe, creating a very unique and enveloping vibe.

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    Horna - Nyx (Hymnejä yölle) (2024)

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    Never fucking around, Horna returns for their 30th anniversary with the crushing “Nyx”. Featuring six tracks and over 45 minutes of neck breaking Black Metal, the band clearly shows why they are the kings of the genre thanks to their punishing sound and firm grasp of the genre. With their usual no holds barred attitude, this release punishes the listener with a barrage of piercing guitar work and furious drumming.

    Opening with the blistering first hymn, Shatraug and company unleashed all hell with sinister guitar riffs and Spellgoth’s signature harsh vocals. The band’s ability to inflict the listener with raw aggression, is more punishing thanks to how refined and masterfully executed their music is, as hymns “II” and “III” showcase. The sinister aural created by tracks like “IV” is still one of the band’s best features, as it delivers their message with much more finesse and style than any other band of the genre.

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    The Mist From The Mountains - Portal - The Gathering of Storms (2024)

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    Delivering waves of highly melancholic and melodic Black Metal, today we have Finland’s The Mist From The Mountains and their sophomore full-length release “Portal - The Gathering of Storms”. Perfectly balancing aggression with melody and some folkiness, this album features six tracks and over 56 minutes of lush and crafty music. For fans of 90’s melodic/symphonic Black Metal, this release has tons of familiar elements, perfectly upgraded with the band’s unique spin.

    Opening with the (old) Empyrium-esque “And So Flew the Death Crow”, this track sets a very melancholic mood with weeping guitars and a doomy pace. There is a certain Folkish edge to the band’s sound that enriches the experience, while still delivering some heavier onslaughts. The catchiness continues to the brilliant “The Seer of Ages” and its lush vocal arrangements and engaging riffing. There is a certain Borknagar-epicness to this track, but with the band’s own signature style that we loved.

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    Soror Dolorosa - Mond (2024)

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    Unleashing the most intoxicating and catchy release of 2024, today we have France’s Soror Dolorosa and their latest opus “Mond”. Featuring nine tracks and nearly 50 minutes of sultry Post-Punk/Cold Wave/Gothic/Dark Rock music, this band will hypnotize listeners with their uniquely enthralling sound. For fans of outfits like Sisters of Mercy, Depeche Mode and Joy Division, this is one release you don’t want to miss.

    Led by Andy Julia, this release immediately sets a very engaging tone with the magical “Tear it Up” and its crafty beats that surround the deep and mysterious vocals. There is just a certain magic on how the band creates a very dark and enveloping world that as songs like “You’re Giving Me”, “Red Love”, and “Souls Collide” unleash their sultriness and atmospheric brilliance. However, it is the vocals that tie everything together alongside dramatic tempo changes.

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    Oceans of Slumber - Where Gods Fear to Speak (2024)

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    Constantly improving with each release, Oceans of Slumber continue their storied career with the masterful “Where Gods Fear to Speak”. This release perfectly showcases the band’s unique style with Progressive Metal/Rock elements paired with the soulful vocals of Cammie Gilbert. Clocking in at over 50 minutes, the ten tracks in this release showcase the different facets of the band’s wide ranging influences, from Death/Black Metal to more playful and experimental styles.

    Opening with the album title track, we get a solid mixture of sultry female vocals, crafty drumming, and diverse tempos. The opener even features some hectic and heavy passages with harsh vocals and intense drumming. The heaviness continues with “Run from the Light” and ““Don’t Come Back from Hell Empty Handed”” with their hypnotic interludes alongside faster paced proggy sections. The drumming of Dobber Beverly is quite diverse, changing tempos very effectively to intricately make transitions during songs.

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    Kanonenfieber - Die Urkatastrophe (2024)

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    Delivering over 50 minutes of fierce World War I inspired Black Metal, today we have rising newcomers Kanonenfieber and their sophomore release “Die Urkatastrophe”. With an elaborate live show production and a Eisregen-meets-Mgła style, this band unleashes some kick ass music and this release masterfully builds on their earlier work and success. If you are looking for uncompromising and catchy Black Metal with a different angle than most bands, definitely check this one out.

    After setting the mood with the intro, the band does not fuck around and delivers the pummeling “Menschenmühle”, a track that feels like an all-out-war just broke out and it is raining blast beats. The German lyrics really immerse the listener into the music, with Noise unleashing all hell in vocals alongside well crafted riffing. The band’s guitar driven melodies quickly stand out as tracks like “Sturmtrupp”, “Der Maulwurf”, and “Lviv zu Lemberg” completely demolish the listener with their fierce nature and masterful melodies.

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    Agrypnie - Erg (2024)

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    As one of the most underrated Post-Black Metal bands, Agrypnie has been one of our favorite bands for quite a while thanks to their ‘heavier’ take on the genre. With “Erg”, Torsten and company continue to polish the band’s sound, making it tighter and equally explosive and melodic as before. Having had a wide variety of musicians participate through the history of the band and in the live setting, this outfit features familiar elements from like Heretoir, Harakiri for the Sky, Anomalie, and Theotoxin, but always creating its own unique brand of madness and atmosphere.

    Opening with the piercing “Aus rauchlosem Feuer”, we quickly get that duality of melodic and slower interludes with fierce guitars and Torsten’s signature snarl. There are always surprises around the corner, like the dramatic choir arrangements of “Meer ohne Wasser”, or the more solemn and moody nature of “Sturm”. Then, quickly transitioning to instrumental songs, like “Blut” part I, and then back to oozing melancholy with part II. This is certainly one of the specialties of this band.

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    Groza - Nadir (2024)

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    Unleashing waves of highly melancholic Black Metal, today we have Germany’s Groza and their latest opus “Nadir”. With a vibe similar to Ellende, Heretoir, and Harakiri for the Sky, this outfit explores the depths of darkness with fierce aggression and technical proficiency in six tracks that span over 42 minutes of excellent music. This emotionally charged release is a rollercoaster of unadulterated raw power that is rare to find these days.

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    Trelldom - .​.​.​by the Shadows​.​.​. (2024)

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    Unleashing one of the most unexpectedly interesting releases, today we have Trelldom and their long awaited fourth full-length release, titled: “.​.​.​by the Shadows​.​.​.”. While many will be waiting for a traditional Black Metal release, the singles have steered people in a completely different direction as the album is more of an avant-garde/experimental release. Featuring a sound reminding us of the later stages of The 3rd and the Mortal, Lethe, and similar outfits, this release features seven tracks of unconventional and highly engaging music.

    Setting a very chaotic and contrived tone with “The Voice of What Whispers”, this release starts its aural explorations with a jazzy and a bit proggy piece that clearly signals this is going to be a very different release than expected. As “Exit Existence”rolls in, we get a sultry sax playing alongside Kristian Eivind Espedal’s (Gaahl) haunting vocals, creating a very eerie and yet intoxicating effect. We particularly love how this track transitions into sinister Black Metal riffs and a heavier nature as it progresses.

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    Vestige - Janis (2024)

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    Just when you think you have heard it all, a band like Vestige drops a release like “Janis”. Creating a very unique amalgamation of Post-Metal, Shoegaze, Alternative Metal and a hefty dose of melancholy, this release delivers nearly one hour of captivating music. With influences from bands like Alcest, SOM, Mountaineer, Cult of Luna, Deafheaven, just to name a few, this release is full of emotional swings and dreamy interludes that will captivate any fan of unique and atmospheric music.

    Setting a playful and engaging mood, “Différent” nicely leads into the dream-like opener of “Deviens la Nuit”, which quickly brings crushing riffs alongside dreamy vocals giving that Mountaineer meets Cult of Luna vibe as the harsh vocals come in. A good dosage of Alcest-like shoegaziness comes front and center with “Démence de l' me” and “Océan”, further cementing a very ethereal atmosphere alongside dramatic tempo changes.

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