Black Metal

Botanist – Paleobotany Review

Botanist – Paleobotany Review

By Thus Spoke on May 17, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Experimental Metal, Post-Metal, 26 comments

“A band with a strong conceptual identity is always something. Whether that’s 1914 and their commitment to depicting the true horrors of world conflicts, or The Ocean, and their exploration of Earth’s many (pre-) historic eras. And were that a spectrum, experimental black metal collective Botanist would fall towards the latter end. Not only insofar as their music leans towards an airy, progressive, post-rock, but also their concept, which, if it wasn’t obvious, is flora. Paleobotany—the band’s eleventh LP—sees this similarity become even more blunt, centering as it does on the prehistoric plants of many millions of years ago.” Morbid Phytologist.

Dødsferd – Wrath Review

Dødsferd – Wrath Review

By GardensTale on May 17, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, 18 comments

“I didn’t really get into black metal until I started writing for AMG. This was primarily caused by a misconception of what these genres entailed, a sort of genre discrimination based in ignorance (isn’t that always the root cause?). In the case of black metal, I thought the definition of the style equated to lo-fi second wave black metal, or the sonic equivalent of hoovering up a marble with a cyclone vacuum. I still avoid that particular sound, generally speaking, but since I have come to love black metal over the years, I must on occasion make my return to the blackest corner of the kingdom. Enter Dødsferd, a long-running project by a Greek who goes by the name Wrath, and his new album… Wrath.” The wrath less chosen.

SYK – eartHFlesh Review

SYK – eartHFlesh Review

By Thus Spoke on May 13, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 21 comments

“Bereft of a lyric sheet or any promotional explanation, I’m unsure why SYK chose to spell the title of their fourth album like they have. eartHFlesh draws attention with more than its unusual spelling though, with a dark, provocative cover, and the fact that it marks the band’s signing with Season of Mist. The Italian collective have been steadily building on a groovy, quirky brand of progressive death metal, distinguished largely by the cleans of now ex-vocalist Dalila Kayros. With her gone, and the group pivoting to primarily unclean growls, and a further turn, if slight, towards the more extreme corners of the genre, a new form of SYK emerges for the first time. eartHFlesh is a critical turning point.” New flesh, new friends?

Naxen – Descending Into a Deeper Darkness Review

Naxen – Descending Into a Deeper Darkness Review

By Dear Hollow on May 10, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 30 comments

“Last we met Germany’s Naxen, we were deep in the swills of the pandemic lockdown here in the States. Released in June of 2020, debut full-length Towards the Tomb of Times was a solid black metal affair that I gleefully awarded a 3.5 but just never listened to again. Not that it was bad by any means, but it did not have the staying power I expected. The trio exists in the cross-section of black metal, adhering to hints of melodic black and death metal, but is pure unadulterated black metal.” Naxen, Naxoff.

Aquilus – Bellum II Review

Aquilus – Bellum II Review

By El Cuervo on May 6, 2024 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Symphonic Metal, 55 comments

“Aquilus occupies a place of special importance in my music collection. One or two exceptions aside, 2011’s Griseus and 2021’s Bellum I offer the best fusions of symphonic music and heavy metal that I’ve heard. Now in 2024 Bellum II completes the puzzle started by its predecessor. A gap of just 2.5 years, compared with 10 years, is far more digestible and strikes while the band remains fresh in my mind.” Another night at the symphony.

Glassing – From the Other Side of the Mirror Review

Glassing – From the Other Side of the Mirror Review

By Dear Hollow on May 3, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Mathcore, Noise Rock, Post-Hardcore, Post-Metal, Shoegaze, Sludge Metal, 97 comments

“No one does music quite like Austin’s Glassing. Nearly impossible to pigeonhole in its blend of jagged riffs and crystalline melodies, critics have conjured the likes of post-metal, post-black, post-rock, mathcore, shoegaze, sludge, noise rock, screamo, and post-hardcore to describe it – none ever quite sticking the landing.” Square pegs, round holes. FIGHT.

Ossilegium – The Gods Below Review

Ossilegium – The Gods Below Review

By Thus Spoke on May 1, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, 16 comments

“Ossilegium, “[o]ne of the best-kept secrets of Chicago’s metal scene,” are a duo hoping to come out of the crypt with panache, playing a brand of black(ened death) metal that hearkens back to decades past. No frills, all ferocity. Going for old-school means high expectations for catchiness and bite, if not intrigue.” Bring out your death.

ACOD – Versets noirs Review

ACOD – Versets noirs Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 30, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 59 comments

“How I’ve never known about France’s ACOD is beyond me, and I heartily apologize to them because I’ve been having a hella good time with many of their releases. Beginning their career as a black/thrash outfit with metalcore tendencies, they began to explore Mephorash-meets-Septicflesh territories around the time of their 2018 release, The Divine Triumph. While there are thrashy moments, the songwriting is now predominantly massive string atmospheres, marching drumbeats, cranked-up bass work, and riff after motherfucking riff.” ACOD AOK.