Album Reviews

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    Serotonin Syndrome - Seed of Mankind (2023)

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    Unleashing aural waves of misery, today we have Finland’s, Serotonin Syndrome, and their third full-length release “Seed of Mankind”. Perfectly blending Post-Metal/Post-Black Metal elements with sobering melancholy, this release unleashings five tracks and nearly 40 minutes of brilliant music. Highly recommended for fans of bands like Karg, Harakiri for the Sky, and Heretoir, this release will certainly turn days cloudy and gloomy.

    Opening with “Among Others”, the release starts heavy hitting with piercing riffs and crushing vocals. This slowly transforms into slower passages that set a very bleak mood early on. As “The Pitiful One” rolls in, the band keeps unleashing blistering aggressive sections in between dreamy guitars and crafty tempo changes. With “Seed Of Mankind” the release takes an interesting tour into Karg/Harakiri for the Sky-esque territories with lush guitars and some shoegazey passages.

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    Kanonenfieber - Der Füsilier (2023)

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    Delivering two tracks of switch brutality and incisiveness, today we have Kanonenfieber and their short but punishing EP “Der Füsilier”. Featuring two relentless tracks, this EP showcases the band’s raw power alongside their melodic undertones and craftiness. For fans of Black Metal that is just weird enough to be different, this is a band to keep in your sights.

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    Grá - Lycaon (2023)

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    Hailing from Sweden today we have Grá and their fourth full-length release titled “Lycaon”. For the uninitiated, Grá is the original band from Heljarmadr, Dark Funeral’s current vocalist. Unleashing eight tracks of superbly catchy and in a way a bit retro Black Metal, this release will give you a very nice and eerie Hypocrisy vibe, while delivering its swift punch. If you like old-school Melodic Black Metal, this is certainly an album to explore.

    Opening with the superbly catchy “White City Devil”, we immediately got Hypocrisy circa “The Fourth Dimension” vibes and we totally loved it. The band however, keeps things more on the Black Metal side with incisive riffs, crafty drums, and a playful bass guitar line. As “Flame of Hephaestus”, and “Torn Asunder”, one can quickly appreciate that Heljarmadr is also a pretty solid guitarist, as most tracks feature very catchy guitar work that is both engaging and punishing.

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    Vile Valo - Neon Noir (2023)

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    Just in time to kick off 2023, Vile Valo (ex-H.I.M) is ready to drop his debut solo release titled “Neon Noir”. This unique singer is ready to get back on the Heartagram train and delivers twelve extremely characteristic tracks filled with soaring vocal arrangements and unrivaled melancholy. If you are a fan of HIM you will certainly love this release as it is full of superbly catchy and intoxicating songs that will leave you listening to it on repeat for days on end.

    The release starts with the dreamy “Echolocate Your Love” and its playful synths flanking Vile’s gifted vocals. The song has his signature dark and yet lively mood, with a catchy chorus and nice distorted guitars. Quickly, the power ballad “Run Away from the Sun” leads to soaring vocal arrangements and a very intoxicating serenading mood. With a nice Amorphis-esque acoustic guitar intro, “Neon Noir” is yet another excellent track in this release with lush arrangements and well crafted tempo changes.

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    Forlesen - Black Terrain (2022)

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    After blowing us away with their 2020 debut “Hierophant Violent”, Forlesen is back for more with a poignant sophomore release titled “Black Terrain”. Clocking in at nearly 60 minutes of crushing and yet experimental music, this album perfectly blends elements of Ambient music and Doom/Black Metal to create a massive slab of enigmatic atmospheric brilliance. Better digested after more than a dozen spins, this release is a killer follow-up to their antics.

    The release opens with the 19-minute behemoth “Strega” and its slow burning approach, flanking distorted guitars with crafty vocal arrangements and additional subtle instrumentation. The solemn combination of male and female vocals alongside a super slow tempo creates a very unique and devastating aura as more colorful guitar leads are introduced. The song reaches an excellent climax and we will definitely not ruin it for listeners here.

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    Mare Infinitum - Cryosleep (2022)

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    Hailing from Russia, today we have Atmospheric Death/Doom outfit Mare Infinitum with an engaging release titled “Cryosleep”. Showing further evolution in the band’s sound, this album adds some bombastic Symphonic Metal elements to the band’s powerful Doom core. Evoking thoughts from Therion to Epica to Funeral and Swallow the Sun. For over 46 minutes the band dazzles listeners with a high octane release.

    The release starts with the highly theatrical and Therion-esque piece “Your Final Bow”, a song with very dramatic choir arrangements and excellent clean male vocals. This track sets a very imposing and lush backdrop, which serves quite well for the traditional deep growls and weeping Doomy guitars the band lays down. With an even more dramatic edge, “The Flight Of No Return” is a fragile piece that nicely shakes things up with crafty tempo changes and excellent guitar leads.

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    Satanic Warmaster - Aamongandr (2022)

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    Keeping that old-school Finnish Black Metal flame alive, today we have Satanic Warmaster and their latest effort “Aamongandr”. Unleashing six tracks and around 36 minutes of pure mayhem, this one-man battalion feels like an army heading to battle. With a timeless sound and crushing execution, this is definitely one of the BM highlights of 2022.

    The release opens with the ravaging intensity of “Bafomet” and its piercing riffing. The band’s sound is very typical and well polished, and even delivering some extra melodic guitar work to keep things fresh and interesting. Keeping things very hectic, “Duke's Ride” unleashes waves of crafty drumming, Werwolf’s signature snarls, all alongside excellent synth undertones. The ability of the band to keep songs fresh and dynamic while retaining their core Black Metal elements is quite engaging and keeps the release interesting.

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    Har Shatan - Manum Inicere Alicui (2022)

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    Unleashing both sheer brutality and timeless nostalgia, today we have mysterious Black Metal outfit Har Shatan and their first full-length release in twelve years titled “Manum Inicere Alicui”. Featuring over 43 minutes of raw and punishing music, this release has that old school vibe that reminds us of early Immortal and Satyricon. Highly recommended for BM purists, this release will wind back the clock to the early days of the scene.

    After a short intro, the release really kicks-off with the dissonance of “Aurora” and its piercing riffs and haunting vocal arrangements. This initial piece slowly warms up the listener for the raw onslaught brought forth by the crushing “Fulgens et Sole Clarior” guitar work alongside its creepy atmospherics. The band’s old-school sound is quite well crafted, while keeping things dynamic with songs like “Secret” and its heavier atmospheric elements.

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    Woods of Desolation - The Falling Tide (2022)

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    It has been a while since we heard anything from Woods of Desolation and their supremely bleak take on Black Metal. As one of the originators, alongside fellow Aussies of Austere, of the Depressive/Post-Black Metal genres, this one-man band has always delivered unwavering soul crushing music and with “The Falling Tide” they are back at it. If you are a fan of total bleakness, this release is a must have in 2022.

    Immediately setting a decadent mood with “Far From Here”, the band’s long hiatus is instantly gone as it continues where it left off. Fierce riffing onslaughts and crushing drumming are expertly flanked by atmospheric oppression. We particularly enjoy the moody tempo changes, as the album pummels through highly emotional songs like “Beneath a Sea of Stars” and “Illumination”.

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    Admire the Grim - Rogue Five (2023)

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    Making our first review of a 2023 album, today we have Finland’s Admire the Grim and their debut EP “Rogue Five”. Featuring a crafty Melodic Death Metal sound, this new outfit delivers five tracks and around 16 minutes of superbly catchy and engaging music. If you are a fan of Finnish MeloDeath bands, this outfit is right up your alley as they have the skills to carve themselves a path in the genre.

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