Prophecy Productions

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    In the Woods… - Otra (2025)

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    As one of our favorite bands back in the late 90’s, In the Woods… is a band that has always been evolving and rediscovering themselves. Even with Anders Kobro being the only original member, “Otra” delivers yet another masterful release of highly melancholic Metal music with a healthy mix of melody and heaviness. Featuring seven tracks and 46 minutes of music, the band returns with their signature style and plenty of catchiness to release one of the most intoxicating releases of 2025.

    Opening with “The Things You Shouldn't Know”, you get a healthy mix of the band’s ‘newer’ emotional sensitivities with fast paced heavy passages that bring back the “Omnio” and “Heart of the Ages” feeling. Bernt Fjellestad’s vocals again deliver those very dramatic and hypnotic clean vocals that he surprised everybody with on “Diversum”, after James Fogarty left the band. At first we were skeptical of this change, but he has demonstrated both live with the old material, and on the new studio album that he was the perfect fit for the job.

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    Year of the Cobra - Year of the Cobra (2025)

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    Unleashing a barrage of fuzzy distorted guitars and heaps of catchiness, Year of the Cobra returns with their eponymous third full-length release. Keeping to their heavy Psychedelic infused Doom Metal/Rock sound, this North American duo crafts eight tracks that are vibrant and quite dynamic, showcasing their maturity while delivering some truly memorable and engaging songs. If you like bands like Purson, YOB, Jex Thoth and Sabbath Assembly, this is right down your alley.

    Opening with the ripping “Full Sails”, we get the band’s fierce and in-your-face stripped down power of crushing bass guitar and crafty drumming. The album keeps the momentum going with the additional catchiness of “War Drop” as the pulsating bass guitar line perfectly balances Amy Tung Barrysmith’s charismatic vocals. The band’s catchier side comes out with the insanely fun “Daemonium” and its hard rocking nature.

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    Gràb - Kremess (2025)

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    Unleashing an elegant and masterful piece of Black Metal, today we have Germany’s Gràb and their sophomore release “Kremess”. Clocking in at nearly one hour of music, this release is full of excellent details that ooze melancholy and somberness alongside traditional BM elements, making each one of its eight tracks a true listening experience. If you like bands like Agalloch, (old) Ulver, Winterfylleth, and Empyrium, this is one release you should not miss.

    Opening with “Waidler” the band sets a very raw and yet atmospheric tone with harsh shrieks and ravaging guitar riffs that suddenly transport the listener to the early, and fiercest, days of Black Metal. However, there is always a melancholy infusion into the band’s music that keeps things far from ‘standard’ and provides them a signature style. On the album’s title track, we get a more somber approach with haunting atmospherics and dulcimer action, while the track quickly transforms with magical keyboards and a solemn pace that feels very visceral.

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    Unreqvited - Pathway to the Moon (2025)

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    As one of the most anticipated releases of 2025, Unreqvited finally returns with the highly melancholic and head turning “Pathway to the Moon”. Perfectly expanding on their Post-Black Metal/Shoegaze style with some more dreamy and ethereal elements, this release delivers over 40 minutes of some of the most engaging and goosebump-inducing music we have heard in quite a while. If you are a fan of the ban or the genre, you will certainly not be disappointed.

    Opening with the ethereal “Overture I: Disintegrate”, we get a very moody start with dreamy clean vocals and lush piano arrangements. This nicely transitions into the fierce “The Antimatter”, which showcases the band’s duality as it quickly escalates into a brutal onslaught of harsh Black Metal frostiness, flanked by lush atmospherics and a very melodic vibe. This song masterfully transitions into more restrained territories, fully unleashing clean vocals alongside dramatic arrangements. Surprisingly enough, this track gave us some later Dimmu Borgir vibes at times.

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    Nachtmystium - Blight Privilege (2024)

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    One thing not on our bing card for 2024 was Nachtmystium and talented fraudster Blake Judd making a comeback with a new full length release. “Blight Privilege” is the band’s first release since the 2018 EP “Resilient”, and marks an interesting return to the scene with seven crafty tracks that are both catchy and powerful, making them quite engaging. With a certain Uada flair to itself, this release is a good addition to the USBM ever evolving movement.

    The release kicks off with the crafty atmospherics of “Survivor’s Remorse”, perfectly paired with engaging riffs and a very melodic vibe. This masterfully continues on “Predator Phoenix”, a very catchy and fun track that gives us serious Uada vibes, and on the more melancholic and twangy “A Slow Decay”, a more experimental piece with very sultry atmospherics. Nachtmystium has always been an interesting band with a solid take on the genre and not afraid to experiment, it is refreshing to hear that is still the case.

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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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    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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    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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    Vuur & Zijde - Boezem (2024)

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    Dramatically moving away from their original Atmospheric Black/Post-Black Metal sound, today we have enigmatic Dutch outfit Vuur & Zijde and their debut full-length “Boezem”. Featuring members from bands like Laster, Terzij de Horde, and Grey Aura, there is no surprise that the music presented in this release is captivating and truly unique, with seven tracks and nearly 46 minutes of hypnotic music. This release is for fans of bands like Beastmilk/Grave Pleasures with some Wave influences and featuring sultry female vocals.

    Opening with the mysterious “Onbemind”, the band sets a very unique Post-Punk vibe that quickly escalates into fierce guitar riffing and pummeling drumming. One would think that the harsh vocals would follow, but they never really do, instead we get the dreamy clean voice of Famke. This gives the band’s sound a very unique proposition, with heavier passages with more restrained drumming and a very organic and catchy vibe, perfect examples of this are songs like “Zusterzon”, “Omheind”, and “Us”.

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    Perchta - D'muata (2024)

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    Unleashing a very unique amalgamation of Black Metal with Folk influences, today we have Austria’s Perchta and their sophomore release “D'muata”. After a very powerful debut release, the band has been making live appearances on respected events like House of the Holy and Eros at Arms thanks to their unique sound and instrumentation. With this release, Perchta demonstrates their debut was not a fluke and that their sound can go even further in the intense 47 minutes of music presented here.

    Opening with the moody “Vom Verlnga”, we quickly hear the band’s use of traditional instruments on top of a vicious onslaught of Black Metal riffs and the charismatic vocals of Perchta. The music features the perfect balance of aggression, melody and melancholy, creating very engaging songs like “Ois ws man san” and “Hebamm”. While infusing lore and atmosphere with others like “Heiliges Bluat”.

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