Wednesday, July 02, 2025

Beleth's Trumpet - Chapel of Bones (2025)

New and fast-working black metal band from Finland Beleth's Trumpet released a short demo last year and already put their debut full length forth, Chapel of Bones through Dominance of Darkness Records. And just from that sentence, the hints already given basically describe the music on the album almost perfectly, as it is just that: a black metal band from Finland. Semi-clean production, mostly middle-paced with enough melody and melancholy on the guitars as you've heard from a lot, lot, lot of other bands from the same region. I couldn't find any moment that made Chapel of Bones a bit special (maybe the album cover) or memorable, except the track "Clandestine Ritual" which does have a couple of more ominous riffs, even though nothing's new there either. Fans of Finnish black metal are built to like this blindly, as the band takes no risks and sits well within the expected boundaries of their sound, and lyrical concepts. 

Listen 

Monday, June 30, 2025

Lichen - Mossblood (2025)

1. Symbiogenesis
2. Chthonian Mysteries
3. Usnea
4. From Life to Loam
5. Hyphae
6. Where the Sky and Ground Become One
7. Mossblood Sigil
8. When Carrion Winds Shall Blow 

Thursday, May 01, 2025

Lo-fi lowlife - May '25

Parasitic Infestation - Killzone
 
 
 
Brutal Death Metal / Slam | New Zealand | EP, 2025
 
1. Buckshot
2. Violence Ensued
3. G.D.F.T
4. Blunts
5. Bobcat Defense Tactics
6. Hammer Time
7. Hollowpoints
 
 

 
Nuclear Hammer - Black Mass Invocation
 
 
War Metal | Russia | EP, 2025
 
1. Intro
2. Black Mass Invocation
3. Nuclear Blast from Hell    
4. Goat Vomit Command
5. Molested Corpse
6. Chainsaw Christfuck
7. Ritual (Blasphemy live cover)
 
 

 
Spekter - Upon the Stronghold of Crimson Flesh
 

Raw Black Metal / Dungeon Synth | Brazil | Demo, 2025
 
1. I
2. II
3. III
4. IV
5. V
 
 

 
Enthrallment - Enthrallment
 

Death Metal | United States | EP, 2025
 
1. Enthrallment
2. Those Who Crawl
 
 


Alienated Inhumanity - Irrevocable Doom
 
 
Dark Ambient / Deathstep / Industrial | 2025
 
1. Insensitive
2. Transfiguration
3. Disappearance
 
 

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Nachtheem - Dromende goden (2025)

Originally appearing on the "Woudmeditatie / Dromende goden" split LP with Moft. 

This split contains two tracks of atmospheric, unpolished black metal. Both acts have contributed in one way or another to each other’s tracks, making this a truly collaborative effort.

1.  Dromende goden (17:08)

Listen

Monday, February 17, 2025

Wodensthrone - Loss (2009)

For years, the British black metal scene seemed to exist in the shadows of its European neighbors. While countries like France and Germany built influential scenes with a distinct identity, the UK struggled to maintain the same momentum. However, over the last decade, a wave of new and reinvigorated bands has redefined the region’s output. Winterfylleth, Fen, and Altar of Plagues have pushed the envelope, but beneath them, a new class of underground contenders has emerged, including the likes of Askival, Skaldic Curse, and the subject of this text - Wodensthrone.

With their debut album Loss, Wodensthrone make a striking entrance into this growing movement, crafting a sound that is both epic and deeply rooted in themes of nature, mythology, and Anglo-Saxon heritage. Unlike bands that use history as a platform for nationalism, Wodensthrone’s lyrical themes are less about territorial pride and more about a longing for a lost world—one where untouched landscapes stretched endlessly, unmarred by industrialization. This atmosphere permeates every aspect of the album, from its sweeping compositions to the evocative use of synths and acoustics.

The band’s musical approach finds itself at a fascinating crossroads. Loss is as much indebted to the ethereal, nature-infused stylings of Drudkh as it is to the stormy, unrelenting aggression of Wolves in the Throne Room. This duality is immediately apparent in tracks like “Black Moss,” which erupts with frantic double bass and sharp tremolo riffs before melting into haunting, melodic passages. “Upon These Stones” takes this even further, its lush synth work and clean instrumentation elevating the album’s immersive, almost cinematic scope. Then there’s the standout “Heófungtid,” a track that perfectly captures Wodensthrone’s ability to balance raw energy with moments of quiet introspection.

Despite wearing its influences on its sleeve, Loss never feels derivative. Instead, it refines and reshapes familiar black metal elements into something uniquely its own. The production strikes a delicate balance between grit and clarity, allowing the album’s layers to breathe without stripping away its primal edge. While some might draw comparisons to the atmospheric American black metal movement, Wodensthrone ultimately carves out its own space within the broader landscape of the genre.

With Loss, Wodensthrone contribute to the ongoing resurgence of British black metal, proving that the scene is no longer just a regional force but a global contender. It’s an album that not only delivers powerful, immersive compositions but also reaffirms the idea that black metal can be as much about beauty and history as it is about darkness and aggression.