Album Reviews

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
    • Comments: 0

    Horna - Askel Lähempänä Saatanaa (2013)

    cover

    Finish Black Metal giants Horna return with another killer Black Metal release that is set to rape and pillage plenty of speakers and eardrums for months to come. As one of the biggest names in Black Metal, it is not suprising that Horna delivers 48 minutes of soul crushing BM lead by Shatraug and fronted by their newest vocalist Spellgoth of Turmion Kätilöt fame.

    Setting a very diabolical mood with “Alku”, things really pick up with the crushing “Askel Lähempänä Saatanaa”. Having written the book on Black Metal riffing, Shatraug delivers some very hyptonic and crunchy riffs that are perfect of Spellgoth’s demonic snarls. The band’s ability to quickly change tempos between catchy powerful riffing and full-on blast-beats and curshing spend is just amazing and it is nicely showcased on tracks like “Kunnia Herralle, Kuninkaalle” and “Kuolema Kuoleman Jälkeen”.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
    • Comments: 0

    Cult of Erinyes / Zifir – Split (2012)

    cover

    Arriving from Belgium’s Tanquam Aegri Somnia label, today we have a split release of two crushing Black Metal bands: Cult of Erinyes (Belgium) and Zifir (Turkey). Featuring 30 minutes of music this release does a great job in showcasing both bands monstrous sound and punishing take on the genre. We love split releases that demonstrate the talents of bands just enough to make you interested in them and start looking for their albums, and this is one of those well balance split releases.

    The three-piece Cult of Erinyes opens the release with the dissonant “Teutoburger Wald”, a 6 minute devastating track that features a very powerful guitar-driven atmosphere. Within the band’s cavernous sound, the blasting drums and pounding bass guitar nicely keep things interesting while the very typical vocals round-up the equation. After pummeling through the second track “The Eschatologist”, the band delivers their best song of the split release: “Hermintry”. Their last track makes a lasting impression thanks to its crushing guitar work and hellish vocals.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
    • Comments: 0

    Todtgelichter – Apnoe (2013)

    cover

    After breaking the mold with their outstanding 2010 release “Angst”, today we have Todtgelichter back with an even more impressive release titled “Apnoe”. Continuing to push their Avant-garde Black Metal boundaries into more Post Rock/Black Metal territories, this German band manages to deliver 10 captivating songs that if you are a fan of their previous release, you will be in musical paradise for hours on end.

    Featuring a new bass guitarist and vocalist, the band opens very energetically with “Embers”. The band’s excellent songwriting skills are immediately present in how this track weaves back and forth from aggressive harsh vocals sections to more dreamy parts with female vocals. The band’s female singer, Marta, has that very natural voice that we love from singers like Agnete Madder Mortem and Marjan of Autumn. The very organic dreaminess of this song makes it quite magical indeed.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
    • Comments: 0

    October Tide – Tunnel of No Light (2013)

    cover

    Recently resurrected (2009) October Tide delivers us their second release in four years with “Tunnel of No Light”. Featuring their traditional early Katatonia sound from the 90’s, this band keeps doing what they do best, and we totally dig them for that. Lead by Fredrik Norrman, the band recently changed bass guitarist and vocalist, but you can’t even tell the difference since October Tide is as melancholic and brutal as ever.

    Opening with their signature layered guitars on “Of Wounds To Come”, we get the first impression of the band’s new growler Alexander Högbom, and we must say it is very impressive. The intricate melodic guitar work is the staple of the band and they do not disappoint in tracks like this one and “Our Constellation”. The first Doom epic comes under the name of “Emptiness Fulfilled” and its crushing weeping riffs. This song delivers both magical melodic passages and super powerful growls… exactly what Infernal Masquerade likes.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
    • Comments: 0

    Inexistenz - Erfundene Welten (2013)

    cover

    With all the fuzz being about Post-Black Metal releases these days, today we have a soul crushing Depressive Black Metal album in “Erfundene Welten”. Being the sophomore release of this Slovenian one-man battle unit, we are quite surprised at the maturity behind this release. Presenting six tracks of painful Black Metal influenced by Doom and more atmospheric bands, this release should appeal to fans of acts like Dodsferd and Austere.

    Opening with the very raw and nihilistic “Verlohren in der Neer”, Inexistenz really sets the bar high for this album with a very Doomy pace and haunting vocals. The drums are quite slow-paced and perfectly craft an extremely melancholic mood. The riffing is quite standard and very fitting for the genre. Things pick up a bit more in the first half of “Erfundene Welten” and they are nicely halted by a lush atmospheric interlude.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
    • Comments: 0

    Beissert – Darkness:Devil:Death (2013)

    cover

    We have been very troubled by writing a review for this release since it is one very complex and intricate album that is hard to swallow in a few (dozen) spins. Building up on their already very intoxicating sound, the band brings together Groove/Technical Metal elements into some Sludge and even Heavy Metal/Hard Rock influences all coming together in some kick as Metal-with-attitude as we would describe it.

    The album starts in a confusing manner with tracks like “The Chthonic Cathedral” and “DarknessDevilDeath”, both filled with killer riffs and soaring vocals, but seem very overwhelming for opening tracks. While band’s sound is very present in said tracks, we think that maybe something more approachable and mellow as “Age Ov Darkness” (and its sick melodic riffs) would have better served as a lead-up into the band’s groovy music. However, once the first two song hump is behind you, all the rest of the release is just sweet aggressive and melodic brilliance.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
    • Comments: 0

    Forlorn Chambers – Unborn and Hollow (2013)

    cover

    Founded in 2012 and already with a killer demo out in 2013, Forlorn Chambers is one very promising Death Metal band from Finland. Featuring three tracks, this release shows a very mature band with a knack for melodic passages and killer drumming. Having a vibe combining Swedish Death Metal with some more Melodic elements, we are quite shocked about how good this mysterious band in.

    Opening with the crushing “Unborn and Hollow”, this demo starts on a very high note due to the excellent quality of the band’s music. The drumming is superb and the riffing is very well structured, the vocals are a bit odd for the way the music sound but they have that old-school vibe similar acts like Nebiros (Mexico) and such. Thanks to the killer production, this track (and the rest) sound exactly like something that any big-name Scandinavian band would be able to produce.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
    • Comments: 0

    Neferion – The Primordial Mode (2012)

    cover

    In the short-but-sweet category, today we have a very talented entry from the Northern lands of Finland: Neferion and their 2012 demo “The Primordial Mode”. In this four-track release, the band showcases and new and fresh style that allows them to deliver powerful tracks filled with harsh and clean female vocals delivered by the band’s vocalist Maija Saari. Combining a good dose of melody and Thrash Metal this brief release gives you a powerful insight into the band’s musical capabilities.

    Opening with the powerful “Nightingale” the band delivers waves of melo-Thrash riffs that immediately grab your attention. The growls are as powerful as any male-growls and the transitions to clean vocals are very well done. The sense of melody of the track is quite engaging and gives the band that clean-cut Finish-style of Melodic Metal presence. “Daunting” keeps the energy flowing and has more of a Modern Metal vibe to it with the chorus part making the band comparable to acts like Kittie and such, but with a more aggressive edge.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
    • Comments: 0

    Ov Hollowness – The World End (2013)

    cover

    The Epic Post Black Metal Canadian outfit Ov Hollowness brings today a hefty dosage of piercing riffs and crushing vocals with “The World End”. For the duration of the 10 tracks in this release, this one-man band manages to socially abuse the listener with punishing guitar work surrounded by an excellent atmosphere and very well paced melodic headbanging sections. If you are a fan of guitar driven Black Metal, this is one release you don’t want to miss.

    Immediately blasting away with “Abstractive”, the band immediately reminded us of bands like Agrypnie that push the boundaries of the genre by taking it to different directions. The guitar work is not your typical tremolo-picking abuse festival; it is more centered and melodic allowing the melodies to flow better while maintaining a very brutal and crushing sound. There are also tracks that are quite aggressive for the more purist fans of the genre, and they can be nicely sampled with “Grey”.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
    • Comments: 0

    Arsenic Addiction – Echoes of Mourning: Communion with the Damned (2012)

    cover

    Nicely refining their skills over time, today we have Arsenic Addiction and their latest release “Echoes of Mourning: Communion with the Damned”. Hailing from Salt Lake City one of the Mormon capitals of the world, it is quite refreshing to find a band with such an aggressive yet melodic sound and imposing stage presence. Claiming to be Gothic Victorian Metal, the band nicely combines Gothic Metal elements with heavier Black/Death Metal influences all delivered by their female growler: Lady Arsenic.

    Opening the release with the imposing “Aphotic Rite”, the band showcases even more Gothic touches than on their previous release. As an intro, this track really gets the listener interested in what is to follow. “Crown of Glass” goes into full swing with the band’s trademark signature and a constant struggle between hellish growls and soaring clean vocals. The band’s sound has that early 2000’s vibe of Gothic Black/Death Metal that is still widely used (and loved) these days.

Pages

Recent Image Galleries