Albums of the Year 2023

It’s always the case that this procedure tends to seem easier than what it eventually is. All the preparations throughout the year, all the careful archiving of listens and albums from the first day, does not reduce the perfectionist’s angst for a conclusive round-up of the 12 months that just passed by. Or smashed through. I have to admit that keeping up with this, at this speed and at all the different directions it takes, becomes harder and harder the same way it’s more and more of an effort to stay up all night when you get older. I’m probably slowly turning into the aged grumpy man, sticking to a few favorite classics, and shaming all the youngsters and their non-knowledge.

Top 15 Greek metal albums of 2023

15. Wothrosch: Odium | Hammerheart Records

14. Διχόνοια: Στη Γκρίζα Πολιτεία | Self-released

13. Thromvosis: Proclamation of the Smegmatic Warcult | Self-released

12. Heretic Cult Redeemer: Flagellum Universalis | III Damnation Productions

11. Apovrasma: Archid​é​mon | Self-released 

10. Deviser: Evil Summons Evil | Hammerheart Records

9. Head Cleaner: The Extreme Sound of Truth | Vinylstore.gr

8. Allochiria: Commotion | Venerate Industries

7. Thlipsis: Dawn of Defiance | Floga Records

6. Menace: Open Fire | Razorbleed Productions

5. Drakon Ho Megas: Έλευσις Αντίχριστου | Floga Records

4. Συντρίμμια: Repulsive Inexpression | Self-released

3. Varathron: The Crimson Temple | Agonia Records

2. Auriferous Flame: Ardor for Black Mastery | True Cult Records

1. Thy Darkened Shade: Liber Lvcifer II: Mahapralaya | 

World Terror Committee Productions

Top 15 split releases of 2023

15. Arallu & The True Werwolf: Arallu / The True Werwolf | Israel / Germany, Narbentage Produktionen

14. Fistula & Contaminated: Apex C.H.U.D. / Nigromancer | United States / Australia, Blood Harvest

13. Dead and Dripping & Prophecy of Suffering: Dead and Dripping / Prophecy of Suffering | United States, Lord of the Sick Recordings

12. Mortuary Ghoul & Blood Rage: Horror Worshipping Death | United States / Wales, 

Frozen Screams Imprint

11. Disillumination & Temple of Nihil & Angr: Ex Mundi Ad Nihil - Gnosis of the Unbeing | Russia / Russia / International, Self-released

10. Feral & Crawl: Made as Those Who Are No Longer Alive | Sweden / Sweden, 

Transcending Obscurity Records

9. Grabunhold & Circle of Shadows: Lamentationen | Germany / Austria, Iron Bonehead Productions

8. Azaghal & Black Faith: Immortalized in Luciferian Blood | Finland / Italy, Nero Corvino

7. Galvanizer & Morbific: Galvanizer / Morbific | Finland / Finland, Iron Corpse

6. Gormanudr & Hergandrom: Morbid Sorcery Under the Battle Moon | International / International, Narbentage Produktionen

5. Ancestors Blood & Heimdalls Wacht: Ancestors Blood / Heimdalls Wacht | Finland / Germany, Heidens Hart

4. Worm & Dream Unending: Starpath | United States / International, 20 Buck Spin

3. Heretic Cult Redeemer / Svartulven: Path of the Undead Ichor | Greece / Greece, Self-released

2. Undergang & Spectral Voice: Undergang / Spectral Voice | Denmark / United States, Dark Descent Records

1. Nefarious Spirit & Herald: The Omniversal Pulse | Greece / Greece, Death’s Ovations

Top 15 compilations of 2023

15. Execration: Excreted Guts | United States, Doomed to Obscurity Records
14. Blinding Sun: A Parade of Horribles | United States, A Parade of Horribles
13. Celestial Bloodshed: Blood Stained Evocations | Norway, Death Revelations
12. Funebre: Demo Tapes 1989-1990 | Finland, Morbid Cellar Records
11. Pestilength: Paragon of Necrotic Origins | Spain, Self-released
10. Putridarium: An Exploration of Burial Perversions | Germany, Headsplit Records
9. Attack: Human Souls | Czech Republic, Darker than Darkness Records
8. Torture Rack: Pit of Mutilation | United States, Headsplit Records
7. Sorcier des Glaces: Sous La Lune Noire | Canada, Osmose Productions
6. Kêres: Black for Blood / On Virgin Wasteland / Traitor's Mask | Finland, Satanik Requiem
5. Carnal Dissection: Complete Discography | United States, CDN Records
4. Hacavitz: Jun K'aal Xiutin | Mexico, Anti-Human Productions
3. Wombbath: Brutal Mights / Several Shapes | Sweden, Old Skull Productions
2. Immortal: The Northern Upir's Death | Norway, Darkness Shall Rise Productions
1. Morta Skuld: Nascency of the Prolific | United States, Sewer Rot Records

Top 15 EPs of 2023

15. Anéanti: Poison - Les formules diaboliques | Belgium, Death Prayer Records
14. Luxmori: Luxmori | Finland, Self-released
13. Undegang: De syv stadier af ford​æ​rv | Denmark, Me Saco un Ojo Records
12. Cave Moth: Paralytic Love | United States, Self-released
11. Wolves in the Throne Room: Crypts of Ancestral Knowledge | United States, Relapse Records
10. Aeon Furnace: Providence Desends | Finland, Ancien Culte
9. Mortual: Evil Incarnation | Costa Rica, Nuclear Winter Records
8. Hate Forest: Sowing with Salt | Ukraine, Osmose Productions
7. Ascendency: A Manifest of Imperious Destiny | Denmark, Me Saco un Ojo Records
6. Xibalba Itzaes: Under the Pyramids | Mexico, Self-released
5. Carcinoid: Encomium to Extinction | Australia, Me Saco un Ojo Records
4. Fluisteraars: De kronieken van het verdwenen kasteel - II - Nergena | Netherlands, Eisenwald
3. Hyperdontia: Deranged | Denmark, Me Saco un Ojo Records
2. Melissa: II | United States, Self-released
1. Spectral Lore: 11 Days | Greece, Self-released 

Notes and echoes - November 23

The night unfolded in a cloak of shadows as he trudged along the dimly lit alleyways, his footsteps echoing the percussive beats of the underworld he adored. The streetlights flickered, but his eyes burned with the fire of a thousand broken sigils. His thoughts, a tempest of disdain for the feeble imitations and diluted strains that dared call themselves metal. The leather jacket, worn and adorned with patches of obscure bands, creaked in tandem with his determined pace.

Arriving home, he entered a realm that echoed his soul: a sanctuary where the air was thick with the musty scent of aged vinyl. The room, a catacomb of sonic relics, housed a dusty desk beneath a flickering bulb. With the precision of a ritualist, he carefully selected vinyl from his sacred collection, the ones that spoke the language of ugliness, of unyielding brutality. The turntable whirred to life as he lowered the needle onto the grooves, each pop and crackle a prelude to the impending sonic onslaught. 

And the needle dropped.

-----

• Aeon Winds - Night Sky Illuminations (2023)

Quite synth-loaded, aiming for a symphonic / atmospheric black metal template. Okay until some dull guitar solos appear here and there. Aims for epicness but only half-delivers. [3 out of 5]

• Anal Stabwound - Reality Drips into the Mouth of Indifference (2022)

Creative song writing, but all over the place. I don't feel the brutality sometimes. [3 out of 5 - Good]

• Ceremonial Bloodbath - Genesis of Malignant Entropy (2023)

You have to try a lot more if you want to sound heavy. [2 out of 5 - Below average]

• Chaotian - Effigies of Obsolescence (2022)

It's how things should be. [4 out of 5 - Excellent]

• Galvanizer - Sanguine Vigil (2019)

This band should have been found way earlier. Deathgrind worshippers dripping with the traditional sound of early Carcass, General Surgery, Sadistic Noise, all in a blender. [3.5 out of 5 - Great]

• Imprecation - In Nomine Diaboli (2022)

Ugly and brutal. Constantly improving band for the last decade. Production slightly too clean here, but it's fine. [3.5 out of 5 - Great]

• Minenwerfer - Nihilistischen (2012)

The only bad thing here is the damaged drum sound. Hostility and aggression flows through it nonetheless. Great band. [3.5 out of 5 - Great]

• Precambrian - Tectonics (2020)

Covered it when it was released, it still slams. Avanalche album from start to finish. [4.5 out of 5 - Brilliant]

• Stabbing - Extirpated Mortal Process (2022)

Plastic sound, and deplorable cover art. Some tracks are decent, and their newest demo is promising. Not this though. [2.5 out of 5 - Average]

• Ymir - Ymir (2020)

Raw-ish black metal, with some atmospheric elements. However, extremely standard and predictable. [2.5 out of 5 - Average]

Amorphous transmutations - Interview with Cryptworm

A lot of stench thrives in the underground death metal scene, if you're willing to get your hands dirty. Cryptworm's their first steps in 2017 with a potent demo were already promising. After a handful of mini releases for a few years, the band released its debut in 2022 named Spewing Mefitic Putridity, a delectable dose of 90's death metal and filth. Mainman Tibor had a short conversation with A.C. about the status of the band the exciting news for the near future.

Our struggle reflects hope - Interview with Thlipsis

Thlipsis (from the word θλίψις, meaning sadness) is a relatively new name in the underground scene but its band members are no rookies. After a formidable short EP in 2021, the project's debut full length Dawn of Defiance came out just some weeks ago and constitutes one of the best Greek black metal releases of the year so far. Pumped with scourging melodies, fantastic musicianship and an intimidating presence, the record is worth your time both sound-wise and lyric-wise. The band discussed with Arson Cafe topics around its release, ideology and current status.

Gam - Alt Hans Væsen

 

Black metal from Denmark.

 

Album out in 2023 through Den Ottende Kunst.

 

From the Rites of Pestilence Y.T. channel:

Gam's fiery debut full-length, arriving oen year after their first demo, "Hvisken fra Skyggernes Vrå".

Despite the greatness of their demo, "Alt Hans Væsen" is truly a triumph and step up from their previous work, indeed and "escalation on all fronts", this album takes on the old school approach of their previous record, reminiscing to me with bands like Helwetti or early DsO, but adds more elements and is definitely heightened by songwriting prowess.

A tremendous hymn of pagan fury and proudful heritage, Gam honors their ancestry through a no-fringes delivery of pure old school BM sound, definitely with some of the more Punk-ish, galloping elements of their compatriots in Skinliv and the Korpsand circle however. The Black Metal majesty is only interrupted by beautiful Folk passages, but indeed its musicianship is uncanny on all fronts, with the guitarwork remaining ever engaging and powerful, the drums having an absolutely barbaric but spot-on performance, and the vocals especially delivering with full fury on moments of unabashed assault, as well as might and epicness in moments grandeur.

Definitely one of the best old school Black Metal records to come out this year, which should not come as a surprise, having been released on tape through the excellent Den Ottende Kunst.

The A.C. report:

---

Music: 3.5
Production: 3
Vocals: 3.5
Text: 3
Cover art: 3.5
Originality: 3.5
Instrumentation: 3.5
Atmosphere: 3.5
Flow & cohesion: 3
Impact: 3
Replayability: 3.5
Innovation: 3

---

Overall: 3.3 out of 5 [Good / Great]

 

Ushangvagush - Pestmo'qon

Black metal from the United States.

Album out on September 22nd, 2023 through Realm and Ritual.

From the band's Bandcamp page:

The separation of the human mind and natures spirit has caused the starvation of this planet. The disconnection of earth and mind has destroyed the connection between humans, animals, and plants.

The growth has diminished creating starvation across a planet that is no longer home. The fear of a non-existent future deteriorates the mind, allowing the starvation of the human vessel.

We have reached a point of no return.

_________

Pestmo’qon is the second full-length release from indigenous black metal project Ushangvagush. Composed of a monolithic 45 minute track, Pestmo’qon ( “Starvation” in the Mi’kmaq language) is a dense slab of obsidian darkness lamenting man’s ongoing destruction of the earth and the complete disconnect between the human mind and the spirit of nature.

Ushangvagush’s sole member, D, screams through grit teeth over furious guitars and pummeling drums, “scorch & take, doe, retreat back to the stolen world. the spirits no longer bathe. gatherers flown, fear for nothing. uncertainty awaits the putrid towers.” The raw anger only subsides in momentary waves throughout Pestmo’qon, with the last gasps of beauty fading in sun-laced ambient passages before being snuffed out and returning to bitter misery. Pestmo’qon is a painfully realized album, an immersive and emotive journey through destruction and loss–of nature and of culture–to the end of all things.

The A.C. report:

---

Music: 4

Production: 4

Vocals: 3.5

Text: 3.5

Cover art: 4.5

Originality: 4

Instrumentation: 4

Atmosphere: 4

Flow & cohesion: 3.5

Impact: 3.5

Replayability: 3.5 

Innovation: 3.5

---

Overall: 3.8 out of 5 [Excellent]

Thorn - Evergloom

Doom / death metal from the Unites States. 

 

Album out on September 15th, 2023 through Transcending Obscurity Records. 

 

From the label's Bandcamp page:

 

Underground death metal heroes Thorn conjure up their third full length which is easily their most mature and immersive one yet. They've elevated their unique style of barbaric old school death metal blended with emotionally-charged atmospheric parts which very few bands are able to pull off convincingly. As if reminiscing about bittersweet memories, the music instinctively oscillates between angry, bludgeoning parts and poignant, wistful tunes. This contrast works beautifully for their kind of doomy death metal music, and even better so on this album which has more pronounced death metal influences along with comparatively more fleshed out structures. Interestingly, the songs on the album start getting more violent after the initial comforting lull, drawing in unsuspecting new listeners and preparing them for the ritualistic slaughter, after which they go back to their dreamlike state, closing with the triumphant title track which perfectly encapsulates their sound. Thorn have come up with a refreshing and fulfilling album that's just as powerful as it's evocative, and one that will be talked about for aeons to come.

FFO: Desecresy, Intestine Baalism, Edge of Sanity, Desultory, Fumes

The A.C. report:

---

  Music: 3.5

Production: 3

Vocals: 3

Text: 3
Cover art: 3.5

Originality: 3.5

Instrumentation: 3
Atmosphere: 3.5
Flow & cohesion: 3
Impact: 3
Replayability: 3 

Innovation: 3

---

 

Overall: 3.2 out of  5 [Good]

 

Dvorac - On the Wings of Unknown

Region: Croatia

Genre: Black Metal

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1. Descent

2. Black Wall of Sleep

3. When the Moon Brings Light in Darkness

4. Freezing in the Mountain Cave of an Ethereal Being

5. On the Wings of Unknown

6. Pawn King's Thoughts

7. Witch on the Moon

Ascendency - A Manifest of Imperious Destiny EP

Region: Copenhagen, Denmark

Genre: Black / Death metal

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1. The Triumph of Draconian Might [4/5]

2. Victory - In All Its Emphemeral Glory [3/5/5]

3. Domitor Invictus [3.5/5]

4. A Manifest of Imperious Destiny [4/5]

-----

Summer 2023, Me Saco un Ojo Records / Dark Descent Records

Listen 

Serpent Column - Kathodos

Region: United States

Genre: Avantgarde black metal

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1. Departure of Splinters [4.5]

2. Kathodos [4.5]

3. Night of Absence [3.5]

4. Dereliction [3.5]

5. Anodos [3.5]

6. Seinsverlassenheit [3.5]

7. Splinters of Departure [4]

8. Wind and Fog [4]

9. Pathlessness [3.5]

10. Offering of Tongues [3.5]

11. Desertification [3]

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Autumn 2020, Mystískaos

Listen

Panopticon - Cedar Skeletons

 

"This track is from the new album " The Rime of Memory". It features guest vocals by my friend Victor Sanchez and a choir comprised of many of my collaborators ( Andrea from Exulansis, William from Dalla Nebia, and Andy ,whom yall know as the bass player from our live band.) Patrick Urban (Dämmerfarben) wrote and performed Cello, Charlie Anderson returned to collaborate on this album on fiddle, and we had a great time recording and arranging together.

This is being released today because SO many of you wrote the county commissioner to advocate for the continued permit issuing for FIRE IN THE MOUNTAINS...which is one of the best outdoor metal festivals in the world. So thank you so much!

I hope you'll enjoy the song and thank you again.

Pre orders for the album will be coming towards the end of summer, and expect a release right around when the snow returns to northern Minnesota...late fall ...."

-----

Listen

Ebony Pendant - Ebony Pendant

Will o' wisps reflecting in the lake
Ephemeral glow ever looming
Across the shimmering pools of time and fate
Until that bright light fades from view

----------

Listen

Fear and Filth - Blessed Be

Listless avowals.
Brand
The mark into the hands of the masses.

No one to save us.
Out on our own.

Listen

Deeds of Flesh - Trading Pieces

Before the modern day studio effect pollution, this is how death metal albums used to sound like. Debut by now legends Deeds of Flesh came out as organic and as thick as they could make it, in about the middle of the best decade ever. 

All instruments sound perfectly organic, it's quite technical, the production is perfect and the drums are way above average. Simple and ugly lyrics throughout, and lot's of tempo changes as well as great guitar riffs.

Good first step for the band, especially after an equally juicy EP a year earlier, Gradually Melted. Trading Pieces can be there for all your death metal cravings. [4/5 - Excellent]

Tracklist:

1. Carnivorous Ways

2. Born Then Torn Apart

3. Trading Pieces

4. Hunting Humans

5. Impious Offerings

6. Acid Troops

7. Deeds of Flesh

8. Erected on Stakes

9. Chunks in the Shower

10. Blasted

11. Outro

Autumn 1996, Repulse Records

Listen

Bullet Ratings - May '23

Blood Ceremony - The Old Ways Remain [3.5/5 - Great] 
% good marks here

Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite [3.5/5 - Great] 
% better than Death Atlas, cringe still works in their favour somehow

Drain - Living Proof [2/5 - Bad] 
% is this what kids listen to today instead of thrash metal?

Grave Desecrator - Immundissime Spiritus [3/5 - Good] 
% fine as is

Hasard - Malivore [3.5/5 - Great]
% thick

Impetuous Ritual - Iniquitous Barbarik Synthesis [3/5 - Good]
% 15 years of what's going on

Krallice - Porous Resonant Abyss [3/5 - Good] 
% you'll probably enjoy this

Morkera - Aggravations [4/5 - Excellent] 
% sharp like a venom bite

Nefarious Vermin - Abolition of Tradition [2.5/5 - Average] 
% the definition of average

Sacrilegious Impalement - IV - Infinite Victor [2.5/5 - Average] 
% maybe this is fine, but it's all the same

Absu - Tara

Arguably great album, as are their previous ones and with a kickass cover as well. It was the turning point before the band stopped its activities for a while, before coming back with their self-titled album in 2009 in a bigger label, Candelight Records. 

With Tara, I have the same problem I always have with Absu, their type of raging playstyle eventually becomes repetitive for me, and gets me tired.

A few tracks here are awesome, like for example "Pillars of Mercy", "From Ancient Times" and the longer one "Stone of Destiny", which features classic King Diamond worship screams.

Still, 52 minutes of this was too much for me. Definitely good, but I could live with half of it. [3/5]

Tracklist:
1. Tara
2. Pillars of Mercy
3. A Shield with an Iron Face
4. Manannán
5. The Cognate House of Courtly Witches Lies West of County Meath
6. She Cries the Quiet Lake
7. Yrp Lluyddawc
8. From Ancient Times (Starless Skies Burn to Ash)
9. Four Crossed Wands (Spell 181)
10. Vorago (Spell 182)
11. Bron (Of the Waves)
12. Stone of Destiny (...for Magh Slecht and Ard Righ)
13. Tara (Recapitulation)

Spring 2001, Osmose Productions
Listen

Covenant - In Times Before the Light

Covenant were wise to change their name into The Kovenant to separate the time they were unique and beautiful with the time they went completely off the rails. 

I can't believe they also went on to pick this fine piece of work and slaughter its soul in 2002 with that horrendous re-recording. 

Apart from that, one of the most amazing symphonic black metal albums from Norway and maybe generally, full of memorable tracks and great production exactly to fit its time and the perfect medieval cover. 

Possibly overlooked, it's one of the classics of the late 90's and there's a few more around there that you might have also missed. [4.5/5]

Tracklist:

1. Towards the Crown of Nights

2. Dragonstorms

3. The Dark Conquest

4. From the Storm of Shadows

5. Night of the Blackwinds

6. The Chasm

7. Visions of a Lost Kingdom

8. Through the Eyes of the Raven

9. In Times Before the Light

10. Monarch of the Mighty Darkness

Hacavitz - Venganza

Debut album by this still unknown act from Mexico, honoring the classic death / black metal recipe that always works as a test pill for old school freaks to test if the rest of us are posers or not.

Lyrical themes include darkness, evil forces, hatred, also in nahuatl, the native language of their area. Furious riffs, angry attitude, quite good album.

For fans of Morbid Angel and anything underground. 

Track listing:

1. Nightwinds

2. Ultimate Covenant

3. Tsita Ndäte

4. Fathom Thee Eerie

5. Old Rancor

6. Lusting the Dead ov the Nite

7. Venganza

8. Mixtla Miquixtli

9. Lighting Bolts ov Dead

10. Viaje a Mictlan

Perished - Seid

On today's episode of old Norwegian black metal you might have missed even when you thought you had listened to everything, the host's suggestion looks into a lesser known band with not a lot of releases but a hell of a lot of wit. 

Perished from Hommelvik, only put two full length albums out, a couple of demos and a couple of neat EPs, with Seid being the final but most complete work. In the vein of early Enslaved, Gehenna and Hades, there's even distant death metal riffs sometimes and a good dose of folk / pagan parts.

By members of Bloodthorn, Wurdulak, musicians who played in the band later found spots in other bands after Perished broke up, doing live sessions for the likes of Ragnarok and Whoredom Rife. 

LP re-release of Seid soon on Dusktone, as it has been out of print for about a decade.

Track listing:

1. Storm of Fall Delight

2. Dance of the Elves

3. On Wings of Desire

4. As Water Turns to Ice

5. Forged to Bloodshed

6. Departure of Cosmic Union

7. Untouched by Mortal Life

8. Burning Heart of Ice

VoidCeremony - Threads of Unknowing (2023) Review

It took me a while to realize that this band is comprised of a few highly skillful and talented individuals, who sometimes do not go down the regularized death metal framework in their musical projects. Having been (and still until now) oblivious of their debut full length album Entropic Reflections Continuum: Dimensional Unravel, released in 2020, I was drawn to this new work initially because of its vividly purple colored front cover (done by Juanjo Castellano). 

 

With that in mind, one of VoidCeremony's composers is the guitarist also involved in Worm, Atramentus, First Fragment and Chthe'ilist, yet under this name the compositional aspect blows out of proportions when it comes to complexity and technicality. Structures are completely dismantled in Threads of Unknowing, where each track is chopped into a lot of pieces and then all are seemingly glued back together into a random order, yet there lies the splendor of such exceptionally well thought material. Jazz elements luxuriate the album and strongly drive the tracks  towards the baffling orbits that it resides within, resulting in superlative and grossly expressive pieces. 

 

These playing techniques are especially obvious in the masterful bass work as well as the guitar solos, which feel like the first time one would listen to the solos from Destroy Erase Improve. Main guitar lines squeeze dismal energy from distant sources, like the cutting riff fluidity of Immolation or the procedural temperament of Demilich, as Threads of Unknowing might as well leave the listener starstruck if one does not expect this kind of musicianship from the band. 

 

Lyric-wise, the record is also quite creative and offers intriguing text to dive into, going great along the vile but harmonious instrumentation. VoidCeremony combines the two aforementioned genres brilliantly, without losing sight neither of the necessary brutality nor the technical playing style, and in a way it clearly sounds as death metal but with a powerful convolution inside jazz, stemming from the band's impressive instrument abilities. 

 

I would only potentially skip the instrumental piece "At the Periphery of Human Realms (The Immaterial Grave)" in future listens, but interest is replenished by the following, closing and also longest track "Forlorn Portrait: Ruins of an Ageless Slumber", which is spectacular at 11 minutes length. On the other hand, Threads of Unknowing opens with a short and sweet, fantastic track "Threads of Unknowing (The Paradigm of Linearity)", at only 3 minutes, but generally VoidCeremony show that they can create solid tracks under any context. 

 

While other records try hard to be as heavy as possible, this one provides pure pleasure just by listening to the guys playing, and is additionally quite heavy in the process. There's not much to complain for the album, it is exquisite and of high quality across all aspects, then it falls on personal taste how much to indulge in it.

Out on April 14th, 2023 | 20 Buck Spin

DAMAGE: 4/5 [Excellent]

Dødheimsgard - Black Medium Current (2023) Review

Extraordinary, avantgarde post-modernism undulating between inconceivable boundaries, Norway's Dødheimsgard unveil their latest labyrinthine construction Black Medium Current after the monumental previous work A Umbra Omega from 2015. With terrifically unique musicians and an astonishing trajectory over the last 30 years, the band presents a record that is strongly personal and rightfully so, awfully multi-layered. Expertise and sophistication shines through, it's guaranteed you haven't heard anything like this before except from the band itself and it's one of the cases of a piece that deserves the term "experimental" in a very wholesome manner. 

Black Medium Current clocks at 1 hour and 9 minutes, about the same duration like A Umbra Omega, so it constitutes another hefty chapter in Dødheimsgard’s discography, that needs its time for the dust to settle once a first session is through. Uncommon becomes common with this band’s music, and the listener is trained to not be thrown off balance by anything that comes their way, as it’s a the general order of things that you don’t know what’s around the corner with Black Medium Current. At the same time, the record makes it easier to draw comparisons with other subgenres, something highly unusual for Dødheimsgard. 

Opening with the highlight “Et Smelter”, which has a handful of different sections that are all wonderful and sets an almost post-black metal tone (apart from the wacky ending), the same tempo continues on the second track “Tankespinnerens Smerte”. The first really turbulent moment of the album is at the end of third track “Interstellar Nexus” and especially its connection to the almost 80’s sensuous clean guitar, middle-paced introduction of “It Does Not Follow”. 

A clearer black metal direction is found at “Set Tomme Kalde More” which is to me, another highlight. Less interesting to me were the slower moments, especially in tracks like “Hallow” and “Abyss Perihelion Transit”, and the piano segments “Voyager” and the final track “Requiem Aeternum” are excellent, but in both cases vocals on top were really unnecessary. In a way, Black Medium Current feels a bit less otherworldly than previous material of the band, but that’s only because previous material has been extremely otherworldly. 

I can never say Dødheimsgard surpassed themselves with this record, but it is packed, interesting and full of twists and turns. Since A Umbra Omega’s contained inspiration and particularity is unparalleled, one should rather approach this as a completely new body.

Out on April 14th, 2023 | Peaceville Records

DAMAGE: 3.5/5 [Great]

S​ó​l án varma - S​ó​l án varma (2023) Review

A collective of numerous infamous individuals from Iceland has been formed under the moniker S​ó​l án varma (= sun without radiance), which, even though it has been active since 2023, it's just now that a first full work comes to fruition. It is fully worthy of the label "full" as this self-titled record has a drawn out, stretched duration of 1 hour and 7 minutes, with 12 tracks, making it quite a piece to listen to and automatically placing it at the territory of albums that require longer attention span than your average extreme metal album. 

As always, the aesthetics are overwhelmingly beautiful and the production is not simply ideal, but characterizes the dreary and thrilling epicness of Icelandic black metal, especially coming from these musicians. All the tracks are titled with the same word "Afbrigði" and follow Latin numbering, containing exceptional lyricism in the band's native language. The juiciest part of S​ó​l án varma is the compositions themselves, though, which exert terrific potency once the record builds up its pace and establishes itself. 

It actually starts slowly, with the first 2 pieces being long and featuring tense dark ambient / noise meandering, in between some sparse distorted guitar sections (even though, when the pummeling riffs in the middle of "Afbrigði II" kick in, they stamp an immediate album highlight). Then, S​ó​l án varma spreads its winds and covers the sky by its massive presence, coming in the form of apparently ridiculous inspiration from the band to create this material. 

The clearest sibling is Misþyrming, with D.G. being a founder and main songwriter, as his characteristic top-notch vocals crowning the instrumentation. "Afbrigði V" even closes with growing momentum the same way as the aforementioned band's track "Orgia", with a riff that is almost the same. The opener "Afbrigði I", as well as "Afbrigði IX" & "Afbrigði X", hit more slowly, while the introduction of "Afbrigði XI" almost gives out chills of the same kind as Deathspell Omega's last record The Long Defeat from last year. 

Anyhow, simply put, this record is a packed masterpiece. The sequence from "Afbrigði IV" to "Afbrigði VII" includes the most compelling and most captivating black metal of the year so far. But even apart from that, there's memorable melodies and moments throughout the whole span of this generally lengthy record, which manages not to fall under its towering duration. There's so much in S​ó​l án varma, and all of the best kind of Icelandic black metal, which right now equates to the best kind of black metal as a whole. 

Out on April 7th, 2023 | Ván Records

DAMAGE: 4.5/5 [Brilliant]

Kommand - Death Age (2023) Review

Death Age is the second full length album by primitive, dusty death metal band Kommand from California, after a rather well-received debut in 2020 named Terrorscape. Its band members are involved in various underground metal / hardcore / d-beat bands in the area, but under this moniker a clearer approach is taken, even though such elements sometimes make an appearance as well. 

This follow-up record has the same, stripped down and down tuned character of the first release, but maybe with a less surrounding sound and generally thinner production, which makes Death Age easy to listen to on one side, but not so complicated to be fully engaged on the other side. The album’s duration remains at the lower end of the scale, clocking up to 26 minutes with 6 tracks, and all of them feature very distinct, familiar elements: clogged, hefty riffing, cavernous vocals with an ounce of reverb and a tempo dance between fast paced death metal and middle paced groove fiestas. 

There’s not a lot of moments in Death Age that would make it stand out, but most parts are properly written just enough to not discard the record, and it contains a certain level of rawness and heaviness that would appeal to fans that dislike works that are too polished. The one-dimensional production doesn’t give justice to the already average instrumentation, making a lot of the riff-driven parts of the record feel quite empty and  the whole outcome slightly unstable and not efficient enough, in general terms but as well as compared to Kommand’s generally more detectable first release. 

“Fleeing Western Territories” is one highlight that stands out as it maintains some compositional coherence, as well as the closing piece “Collapse Metropolis” and some moments in “Final Virus”. Yet, in other sections like the slow-moving “Global Death” or “Polar Holdout”, things are pretty standard, or to put it better, substandard. 

Death Age somehow barely floats after its conclusion, however it doesn’t have something that would keep the listener hooked or to remember to come back to Death Age later, without just thinking that Terrorscape was simply better. For death metal, it at least has the ugliness and some partial brutality, yet it lacks the merit. I would not discourage someone to listen to it, but there’s better fruits on the market for you. Pick a couple of tracks that you like from here, and move on to the next chapter of your playlist.

Out on March 31st, 2023 | 20 Buck Spin

DAMAGE: 2.5/5 [Average]

Unpure - Prophecies Ablaze (2023) Review

Having already started its activities in the early 90’s with a couple of albums in 1995 and 1996,  Unpure eventually didn’t get far especially when comparing to other, bigger names of the Swedish black metal scene. However, hailing from Uppsala, they have been a brother band to a now well established and household name in the scene from the same city, and that is of course Watain. Apart from sharing members for the release of the latest record Prophecies Ablaze, musicians involved in  death metal neighbours Degial, are also involved in the release. 

Unpure are the oldest of all these bands though, even though they haven’t reached similar levels of popularity. Previous albums were more driven by passion than musical efficiency, and when listening to their early material, one could conclude a skilled toolset was lacking, but that is not the case in 2023, when by now seasoned individuals get down to the juice of the meat when it comes to song construction. The artwork of Prophecies Ablaze is finally at the level of elegance it should be, as well as the record’s production which provides a pleasingly audible sound for an album that was clearly made more professionally than before. 

Music-wise, Unpure’s dedication to the traditional, old school black metal traditions remain (e.g. in “Beyond the Nightmares”, “Northern Sea Madness”), yet the band also includes black / thrash metal elements (in “Small Crooked Bones”),  as well as faster paced, more uplifting tempos through a bit of black’n’roll here and there (more clearly in “His Wrath and the Red Soil”). Highlights of the record are the long, dismal, middle paced section in “The Witch of Upsala” and the wonderful closing track “Endtime Dictator”, while on the other side of the scale actually lies the opener “Megalithic Gateways”, which I found to be the least interesting. 

However, in general, Prophecies Ablaze proves to be highly repeatable and easily listenable. Unpure doesn’t contain the compositional ambition and grandeur of Watain, or the scourging ferocity of Degial, but instead holds its own flame with similar kind of material in a slightly watered down (but not in a negative way) version with a multitude of fine melodies throughout the tracks and enough inspiration to keep the album afloat. Looking at their back catalog, this is the band’s most well-rounded and catered work to date.

Out on March 31st, 2023 | Invictus Productions

DAMAGE: 3.5/5 [Great]

Devangelic - Xul (2023) Review

There is overpopulation in every extreme metal subgenre today, which makes it an even bigger relief to find a solid band among the tons of new music one can go through during each year. Such quality band is Devangelic from Rome, Italy, who have started their activities in 2012 and have offered a handful of highly enjoyable records in the brutal death metal territory, as it was executed by its founders 25 years ago. The band’s debut Resurrection Denied in 2014 had a strong blasphemous character, but since then they have switched to a more occult lyrical theme around Sumerian legends and mythology, which continues on the latest album, Xul. 

Devangelic draw arrows from the same quiver like they have done so far and they aim well, as this new work thrives upon compact heaviness and intimidating brutality. It is fairly technical in terms of musicianship, throwing multiple either perplexed, or straightforward groovy riffs, the solos are frequent and the tempos change often, making Xul complicated enough to show the merit of the band, but pleasing to follow without your head exploding. 

The production is less crystal clear than what it was on the previous record Ersetu in 2020 and this time, the band aims to feel a bit less modern than before, giving out a strong Disgorge worship here, adding enough samples and extra elements that would bring Nile in mind, or at least a brutal death metal version of them. I like this sound transition a lot, because it grants Xul a very potent presence, which is supported by the furious material it contains and presents an album almost of a different time, solid through and through, and amazingly barbarous. 

Vocals are almost solely limited to deep growling, with a few high pitched screams here and there, and sometimes it’s possible to follow the lyrics, but they perfectly fit the music on Xul altogether. Another excellent aspect is the drum work, which keeps up to whatever the guitars throw wonderfully, it maintains a healthy amount of blast beats and is varied enough throughout the record without showing off, but more like serving the composition itself. 

There is an abundance of parts at frenetic speed and some slower, almost breakdown-like intersections, while Devangelic often employ unusual time signatures as is characteristic in brutal death metal, all executed accurately. Xul reaches the higher steps of the ladder for this year’s competition in the genre, and is to me, their most complete work to date.

Out on April 7th, 2023 | Willowtip Records

DAMAGE: 4/5 [Excellent]

Lamp of Murmuur - Saturnian Bloodstorm (2023) Review

Among the numerous underground, noisy raw black metal projects that make appearances and disappearances in the scene the last few years, one of the most talked about ones has definitely been Lamp of Murmuur. After a series of demos and a split with Revenant Marquis, this band captivated the audience with its grandiose debut Heir of Ecliptical Romanticism in 2020, a record that found its way even to more mainstream lists and ears despite its harsh nature. Undoubtedly, there was massive inspiration and merit in that release, which did not evaporate at the follow-up album Submission and Slavery in 2021, establishing the Lamp of Murmuur name for good as a newcomer to look out for in black metal. 

Up to now, everything has been bleached in black and white representation, which brought the first wave of shock in the form of the well-designed, colourful cover art of the new record Saturnian Bloodstorm (which is, as the title, actually delightful). I had been in waiting for the time Lamp of Murmuur will actually step outside of its shadow and aim bigger, this attempt coming now with this polished work that wants to take them closer to the spotlight. 

While I am all for band ambition, the discography on their shoulders is already quite heavy and for what it is, Saturnian Bloodstorm is surprisingly uninteresting and stale. It is clear that the band makes almost tribute albums to their music role models (Submission and Slavery was a love letter to Sisters of Mercy) and now this record looks Immortal straight in the eye. Taking a production even cleaner than At the Heart of Winter, a worrying chunk of this album feels and sounds like Immortal, their landmark guitar sound and riff structure. The guitar lines are too close to that (reeking examples in “Hymns of Death, Rays of Might”, “Seal of the Dominator” and “In Communion with the Wintermoon”, as in, wintermoon…) but the record lacks the energy, the pathos and the vitality of the previous Lamp of Murmuur works. 

It almost doesn’t feel like them, and what was unique and exciting to listen to before from this band, has now completely disappeared, them having turned into a Scandinavian norsecore clone with slim to none of their own identity. Saturnian Bloodstorm is fun to listen to, it is clean enough to not be annoying and has a couple of catchy moments. But this statement by itself, is a huge disappointment when talking about Lamp of Murmuur.

Out on March 26th, 2023 | Argento Records

DAMAGE: 2.5/5 [Average]

Mork - Dypet (2023) Review

Two years ago, it was with Katedralen that I got a bit more convinced that Mork can actually meet its reputation. It has been a band with professionalism that shines through the building, all the right imagery properly placed almost like cancelling the genre’s original spontaneity, which is the reason for their success but also the source of my slight hesitation especially with a set of moderate releases between 2013 and 2019. However, Katedralen’s gripping material indicated that the band looked slightly further than just being another Norwegian black metal band and explored, in their way, fresh directions. 

While this should not mislead the reader that Mork actually experiments towards something completely new, yet they have started to incorporate small sounds, little elements as well as a more personal compositional structure for that record, as well as the newest work Dypet. It is by no means the fiercest or coldest black metal album out of their territories, instead it mostly employs expressive, poignant melodies, it takes its time by setting basic layers and building upon them with beautiful guitar riffs, bass lines and distinctive shrieked vocals. 

The artwork, as the music, is still colourless, but Mork have grown to be a rather easy to listen black metal band. The tracks in Dypet are fairly accessible but at the same time not boring, and with such a smoothened production, this record can stand as an example of what black metal is, in a discussion with an audience that is not actually seasoned in the genre, and an entry level release before diving into bands of a more violent nature. 

Highlights include the moving riffs of “Bortgang”, the accompanying clean vocals in “Svik” and “Hoye Murer” that features Hjelvik of Kvelertak. Exquisite details form the introductions of “Forfort av kulden” and the closing track “Tillbake til opprinelsen”, but Mork are smart enough to use just a few seconds for them before going on.  Their heavier side can be found in the more ominous piece “Avskum” but that’s about it, I would generally like the band to have an overall more assertive presence with Dypet, as all instruments feel like holding back a bit, especially the drumming. Nevertheless, it is clear that it is what Mork intended and they have several assets to show that make the record worth listening to and owning, especially looking at this cover.

Out on March 24th, 2023 | Peaceville Records

DAMAGE: 3.5/5 [Great]

Spectral Lore - 11 Days (EP, 2023) Review

Spectral Lore’s mailman Ayloss has been quite vocal about societal topics and issues on various platforms online in the past, but it had never really entered the thematics of this specific project, apart from maybe the cover of “No Excuses for Fascist Sympathy” by Book of Sand in a single release back in 2019. With his latest work, which is 43 minutes long but can still be considered an EP for Spectral Lore release duration standards, he takes a stand on a receptive and critical problem, that of established regulations regarding refugees in Europe. 

This time, the subject also contributes to the formation of the music, hence a concept release, with allegories drawn from references to various religions and mythological points and a suggestive artwork to go along with it. Musically, the play style of Ayloss is vibrant throughout the whole duration, laying somewhere between the more intense Spectral Lore patterns and the ferocity of a project like Mystras. In 11 Days, the composer manages to convey his anger through the tracks, as the material actually sounds more enraged and more irritated than in recent, more dreamlike albums (e.g. the phenomenal Ετερόφωτος from 2021). 

It balances between two black metal pieces and two dark ambient pieces with one of each type placed consecutively, providing an engaging experience of excellent story telling that can convey the spectrum of struggles it refers to. Opening with animosity and “Moloch”, the synth lines and samples of “Fortitude/Sunrise” can really drag the listener through the angst of being lost at sea with the way forward uncertain and the way back in ruins. “Adro Onzi” features middle-paced ominous guitar melodies that differ from the usual, perplexed fast riff handling of Spectral Lore, and the closer “Tremor/Kalunga Line” features narrating vocals, interlude sections that slightly remind of the prog, non-singing side of current Enslaved, and an almost warmhearted, more epic ending that can leave an aftertaste of hope instead of despair. 

11 Days is a remarkable release by an already remarkable musician, it contains the feel of Spectral Lore at a great form and picks a side. Perfect flow allows for these 40 minutes to feel like a much shorter time, and its more concise dimensions do not allow of any waste of content. Ayloss, as always, is more than capable of creating a work that speaks for itself, and on substantial ground.

Out on March 21st, 2023 | Stellar Auditorium Productions

DAMAGE: 4/5 [Excellent]

Downfall of Gaia - Silhouettes of Disgust (2023) Review

I remember my surprise when this band signed up with Metal Blade Records right after their debut album Epos in 2010. They have polished and restructured their sound and performance since then, having had a relatively successful journey with a series of solid records of what can be discerned as a quite modern approach to underground metal. Fusing crust, post-metal and sludge, along with an attenuated conception of what black metal might be in this day and age, Downfall of Gaia’s latest work Silhouettes of Disgust is anxious and affecting, of assorted taste, with its merits but also its weaknesses.

The tracks of the album are well-worked and diverse enough, moving from heavy fast paced parts (which are executed wonderfully), clean guitar sections, female clean vocal narrations as well as the characteristic main shrieked screams of the band, tempo changes and and an overall charged atmosphere that manages not to diffuse away as things progress. The band gets its hands dirty in various moments, like in “Final Vows” or “The Whir of Flies”, both highlights of the record. D-beat playing arrises in several parts of Silhouettes of Disgust, in more impassioned than harsh guitar lines that show how Downfall of Gaia expresses neocrust, especially obvious in the last two pieces “Unredeemable” and “Optograms of Disgust”. 

Opening with a hefty, sizeable tune like “Existence of Awe”, the stage is set properly for the record. On the downside, it seems like after 10 years of activity and 5 albums since their debut, the music of Downfall of Gaia grows to be a little bit predictable even if it combines several elements, and it is not monotonous. The production has given a fairly loud sound to the snare drums as well, which might reach and annoy the ears of the more demanding audio listeners. 

During the middle-paced, stripped down interjection parts of the album, when the band slows down and builds up the next heated section with simple guitar riffs, it may feel like an almost filler moment for some, even though the overall flow of the record is there. Lastly, Silhouettes of Disgust is in a general manner, not as sharp as their last album Ethic of Radical Finitude, which already felt like a record they had written before. The band, while still sounding relevant, would make good use of a stream of new inspiration for future releases if they want to avoid stalling.

Out on March 17th, 2023 | Metal Blade Records

DAMAGE: 3/5 [Good]