‘Given to Despair’ by Ritual Dictates is a strong debut that combines genres that seemingly do not fit well together in a very skillful manner, resulting in some of the best songs I’ve heard in a while.
review
Ihsahn – Telemark
Ihsahn‘s solo work has always had a divisive character to me. The roots in extreme metal, the progressive and complex music, combined with the influences and a brass ensemble, leaves me somewhere between being intruiged (‘Lend Me The Eyes Of Millennia‘) and not getting through the material. That said, there is no doubt that this […]
Necronautical – Apotheosis
It’s been nearly 10 years since an album of a (extreme / black) symphonic metal band has stuck with yours truly as much as Necronautical recently (Carach Angren’s ‘Death Came Through A Phantom Ship’ probably being the last). Not that there haven’t been decent releases in the genre. On the contrary: the above mentioned, Septicflesh […]
Numenorean – Adore
Canadian post-black metal entourage Numenorean left a deep and long lasting impression with their 2016 debut release Home. In the crowded genre of (depressive) post-black, they differentiated themselves with a record that stuck, hooked and was there to stay. Instead of sinking into the quagmire of mediocre ‘music by the mile’ that post-black can be(come), […]
Lucifer’s Cold Embrace – The Elegy of Lilith
After the well-received EP “Sovereign Heresy” Martin van Beek (Non-Divine, Netherlands) reckoned it was time for a full length album with his project Lucifer’s Cold Embrace. And with “The Elegy of Lilith” he delivers impressive work! Especially regarding the fact that all guitars, vocals and programming are solely performed by Martin himself. Musically we are […]
Funeral Mist – Hekatomb
Better late than never is a phrase. This phrase also goes for the Funeral Mist “Hekatomb” review. The album has already been released six months ago. If I should make a year list of best metal albums this one is high in the ranks. It would be unfair that we wouldn’t treat your blackened ears […]
Lucifers Child – The Order
Hellenic black metal formation Lucifers Child have just released their second full length on Agonia Records. ‘The Order’ heavily leans on the influences of its big brothers in the genre: Watain, Marduk and Rotting Christ (with whom the band shares a guitarist). Does ‘The Order’ stand on its own, or will it be crushed by […]
MaYaN – Dhyana
We wanted to post this review a couple of weeks ago and apologize for the delay. Fact is, I wasn’t able to get out of my chair, since Dhyana blasted me into it. Dyana is MaYaN’s third album and hardly disappoints. Even after listening a couple of times, the record keeps me mezmerized and entertained […]
Firtan – Okeanos
It’s not often that an album comes across my desk and immediately blows me away from start to finish. And it’s even less often that I’m handed an album like that by a band I’ve known about for years – an album that completely changes my perception of that band and their music. Firtan’s sophomore […]
Festival report: Beyond the Gates 2018
Usually, there’s no real need for words when speaking about Norway and it’s vast ties to Extreme Metal. It’s no secret that it has been home to some of the best name in the genre and it still is. Bergen (and it’s area), the country’s second largest city after Oslo, is home to one of […]