Album Reviews

At the release show a few weeks ago, I got the chance to see and hear this album live. This performance got me ready to listen to the studio version and see if it’s just as good as the live performance. Lets find out!
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Norway’s Djevel remains a major stronghold in our contemporary age. Their musical style has evoked the raw trademarks of Norwegian black metal for well over a decade. Djevel's past albums like “Blant svarte graner” and “Ormer til armer, maane til hode” were considered the magnum opus for conjuring up cold winters images of forests and this brings us to the band's newest effort “Naa Skrider Natten Sort”, which is more of a continuation of the 2021 predecessor “Tanker som rir natten”. The album has many epic songs and introspective dark passages that show the refined work of the guitars in providing brooding moods throughout the one-hour listen.
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Finland has been a world purveyor in the black metal genre and if you have been digging into the Suomi black metal underground you would find many great acts like Mooncitadel, Vargrav, Aethyrick, and Ymir. Formed in 1998 by the guitarist/keyboard Varsjarn who has been the mastermind behind writing music, the band’s self-titled first studio album clearly showed the classic style of pagan melodic Finnish black metal. With its frosty themes and soaring melodies, Ymir gave the fans an exceptional quality, now the band has released its sophomore release “Aeons of Sorrow” on October 12th via Werewolf Records.
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After disbanding his former death metal band Vallenfyre in 2017, guitarist and vocalist Gregor Macintosh (Paradise Lost, ex-Vallenfyre) succeeded in laying the sonic groundwork for his blackened death doom band Strigoi. With the second album “Viscera” now released via Season of Mist since September 30th, the veteran opens a new chapter in setting up a direction in the sub-genre of death/doom metal. From the ashes of Vallenfyre, Strigoi boldly exploits the element of modern doom, Gregor Macintosh is a master of conjuring a whole realm of foreboding darkness and that’s exactly how “Viscera” fulfill the crusade.
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The most anticipated return this year comes from Floridian phantom horde Worm who found a way to summon ancient inspiration from the realm of black/death/doom. Just one year after releasing its phenomenal album 'Foreverglade' mastermind, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Phantomslaughter reveals the uncanny nature of his composition. With guitarist Nihilistic Manifesto and Wroth Septentrion A.K.A. Philippe Tougas (Atramentus, Chthe’ilist, VoidCeremony, and Funebrarum) he weaves a cosmic tapestry that redefines the sonic direction of Worm’s music. The newest EP 'Bluenothing' features 4 cuts offering an epoch of transition. There are also several guest musicians like bassist Necreon, L. Dusk (drums) and Charlie Koryn (drums).
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Ripped To Shreds is the brainchild of the Taiwanese-American multi-instrumentalist Andrew Lee who has returned with the third album "劇變 (Jubian)". The new album adds another remarkable output to the band’s discography, marking a significant refinement from the 2020 sophomore release “亂 (Luan)”. The new album embodies the same elements that provide extreme contrast between Swedish death metal and 80’s grindcore being bolstered by insane drums and HM-2 guitar distortion.
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Four decades long and the Swedish doom metal masters Candlemass have been touted as the originators of epic doom metal. Since their groundbreaking debut album “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus” established itself in the canons of epic doom invoking dark and medieval tales of sorcery, the sophomore “Nightfall” was another well-defined record highlighted by the excellent vocal performances of Messiah Marcolin. With the 13th album “Sweet Evil Sun” we see the legendary band once again including the original vocalist Johan Langquist, bringing back his ominous vocals as he conveys effectively powerful anthems. Candlemass wields mighty riffs pledging a solemn oath to the fans and displaying strong performances in an enthralling mastery that beckons the band’s classic era.
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London’s based death metal quintet Vacuous has brought forth its highly anticipated first full-length studio album 'Dreams of Dysphoria' via Me Saco Un Ojo Records (Vinyl) and Dark Descent Records (CD) on October 14th, 2022. Being one of the most promising acts in the sub-genre of cavernous death metal in recent years, Vacuous succeeded in laying its sound with its 2020 debut EP 'Katabasis'. Their lineup consists of vocalist Jo Chen, guitarists Michael Brodsky, Ezra Harkin, drummer Max Southall and bassist Damiano S.
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Australian death metal act Faceless Burial returns with their newest full-length album “At the Foothills of Deliration”. After a two-year hiatus, the Melbourne trio has finely honed its craft where the third album shows how the band can push boundaries while giving each instrument a fair space and the music bears a multi-mosaic sound. Faceless Burial never repeats itself, in each studio album they showed how death metal can be achieved with fine skills. Therefore “At the Foothills of Deliration” stands on its own footing on the level of technicality and brutality.
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The sophomore release “Sacred Rites & Black Magick” from St. Louis Missouri-based black metal duo Stormruler imbues an epic quality that captures the majestic Scandinavian style of black metal. The splendid musicianship between Jason Asberry (guitars, vocals), and Jesse Schobel (drums) takes the melodic side of Swedish black metal and combines them with the aspects of stylish virtuoso showpieces. Stormruler’s triumphant entry into the vast fantasy realms vindicates its melodic compositions, there is a superb emphasis on conjuring a melodic atmosphere. Following the archetype of the masters of Scandinavian black metal like Dawn and Vinterland, they achieve songwriting with flawless performance.
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