Aphelium Aeternum - Dark Interstellar Mysteries

 

This is one of my favorite things I've uncovered all year. Aphelium Aeternum are a thrilling symphonic black metal project from Bavaria. Their new album Dark Interstellar Mysteries is vast in scope, eerie and powerful, an album that seems to consistently drive them to new heights and hint at the burning power that black metal continues to have in 2023. As we gaze into the void of winter, it's anthems like these, fueled by darkness and inspiring listeners to delve ever deeper into the darkness that are going to keep us going through the cold night. 

There is a strange and poetic transcendence to what Aphelium Aeternum have crafted on Dark Interstellar Mysteries. It's a black metal nerds black metal record, a record that continually pushes listeners to think of dark forgotten times. The distinctly medieval aspect of the music paired with the scope of the production allows this record to feel profoundly old and inspiring. These songs are vast and unveil seemingly endless snow covered forested landscapes. There is a sense of the sublime that Aphelium Aeternum are able to tap into in their finest moments that helps to make this a wonderfully compelling offering and one I know I'll be drawn back too time and time again. 

Dark Interstellar Mysteries is a veritable masterclass in what symphonic black metal should be. It has an ancient majesty to it that makes it fascinating, but also presents a sound that seems to keep giving, to drive further and push listeners ever deeper into the mists of the past. Aphelium Aeternum have managed to tap into the same vibe you feel as a kid reading a truly great fantasy novel, or staring into the woods in the middle of a blizzard. It feels larger than life, magical and all encompassing, and it's something I will come back too time and time again. 

Buy the album! 

https://dod-records.bandcamp.com/album/dark-interstellar-mysteries

The Kryptik - A Journey To The Darkest Kingdom

 

Some of my favorite black metal albums are the ones that present gigantic sprawling Lovecraftian worlds. Records where you find yourself wondering what fascinating horror could be around the next bend and where you are held in thrall with the black metal sorcery that the band presents before you. Such is the case with The Kryptik, whose new album, A Journey To The Darkest Kingdom is epic in scale, and surprisingly finds ways to justify its nearly 70 minute run time with mind boggling production to capture the imagination. 

A Journey To The Darkest Kingdom is black metal done right, with a passion and vision that's hard not to be enamored with. The band has found a way to consistently prove just how special their compositional abilities are and it's a delight to really let yourself get lost in the dark kingdoms of their sonic imagining. The Kryptik have a clear vision and as the howling winds surround you and you find yourself lost in the darkest cities of their imagination. It's Brazilian symphonic black metal that proves that genre descriptor isn't a dirty word for sycophants and posers, but rather proof that symphonic black metal is still fertile with wonderfully kvlt ideas. 

The Kryptik have unveiled their most wonderful darkness immaculately on this record and in a way that feels consistent throughout without ever boring the listener. As much as they lean into symphonic elements, the band really is much more rooted in kvlt second wave Norwegian black metal than anything else. The end result is a record that feels wonderfully human and speaks to the bands brooding sense of chaos that is certain to draw listeners in and keep them begging for more. This is black metal done right, and you need its glorious misery in your life. 

Pre-order the album!

https://thekryptik.bandcamp.com/

Utbyrd - Varskrik

Now this is an interesting one. Utbyrd are a fascinating and thrilling symphonic black metal band from Norway who share members with Gravsang and Iskald. There is something stunning and exciting about their debut, and thus far only offering Varskrik which is currently being reissued by the good folks over at Petrichor. This is a potent offering to say the least and an album that continually points to potent darker futures. There is a very real sense of blasphemous poetry that decorates this record and it is a delight to get lost in its twisted layers. 

There is a very real magic to tracks like 'Deildegasten' in how they paint gloriously vulgar pictures for the listener. The simple blasphemy of these offerings is delectable and it routinely points towards darker futures. Yet also one would be remiss not to admire the bombast of what is being done here. these are tracks that are full of emotion and very exciting for that aspect alone. The crazed playing and epic synths hearken back to bands like Dimmu Borgir but also belie a much larger range of influences. The twisted ideas and unique visions that the band routinely executes are thrilling and remind us just how talented Utbyrd are. 

Varskrik is an interesting offering. It may not break too much new ground but it is definitely a strong offering from a band who understand the more twisted sides of symphonic black metal. It is a delight to sink your teeth into epic synths and meaty guitars. The snarled vocals add a certain element of danger to the mix and definitely prove just how exciting Utbyrd can be. Varskrik is a potent and fascinating record. It leaves me very curious as to what will come next from these Norwegian black metal madmen. It should be grandiose. 

Buy yours: 

https://utbyrdpetrichor.bandcamp.com/

 

Amiensus - Abreaction

 

 

Now this is a thriller. It often feels like the latest waves of black metal has lost its sense of bombast. So to hear a band who in fact eagerly lean into that sense of bombast is refreshing. Amiensus find a touching balance between beauty and torment. Massive guitars and crushing vocals counterbalance gorgeous synth padding and elegant compositions. There latest offering, Abreaction is masterful, a thrilling piece of work that leaves listeners in awe of a band who have gone for the throat and continued to impress, no matter the creative leaps required. 

 

I think one of the things that makes Abreaction so good is that they are secretly a symphonic black metal band. Yes there are progressive touches and of course the obligatory post black metal elements, but listening to a song like 'All That Is Unknown' it's hard to disassociate the band entirely from the ranks of acts like Dimmu Borgir. Amiensus thrill with their raw dynamism, the eagerness that they throw themselves into the fray. This is a band who oftentimes sit in a league of their own, continually remind us of just how special they are and have brought in a wealthy diaspora of elements to make for something truly wondrous. 

There's a lot to sink your teeth into on this one. The band have left no stone unturned in crafting a masterful black metal offering. There are layers within layers and the execution is never anything less than completely tasteful. Amiensus may have taken five years to bring this record to fruition, but it was wholly worth it. It's a massive step forward, a thrilling sonic exploration and a reminder that they are the one and only. Abreaction is a masterful offering from these Midwestern black metallers and I'm thrilled to see what they do next!

 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/Amiensus/

Pure Wrath - The Forlorn Soldier

Man it's been a while since I've heard a proper 10 inch - but here we are. The Forlorn Soldier is the latest from Indonesian symphonic black metallers Pure Wrath. A nearly half hour long journey looking into Indonesian genocides in the 60's this is a troubling and dark release that speaks, not only to the nations dark history, but also the rising force of the countries underground. The Forlorn Soldier is a potent offering, a record that routinely ups the ante and reminds us of the consequences of forgetting our past.

The Forlorn Soldier is an impressive release, thoroughly thought out and wonderfully in depth in its execution. There is a simple elegance to what the band is doing here and its counterbalanced by bombastic and truly next level compositions. While nothing here is necessarily reinventing the steel, what Pure Wrath do manage to do is execute some top notch black metal that will leave the listener grasping at their sanity and staring deep into the void of mankinds creation. This isn't a fun listen, but it's an important one and a record that is going to force listeners to dig into their own internal suffering and own past mistakes.

Musically this record is excellent. There aren't too many unexpected moments but the production is top notch and the clean vocals that define the outro of 'Children Of The Homeland' are truly next level. It's an easy record to lose yourself in and a record that seems to consistently drive listeners to deeper levels of introspection. This is an interesting record, one that reaffirms for me that Debemur Morti is among the best black metal labels in the world and one that will make devoted listeners dig once more into Indonesias vast underground...

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/purewrath/

Totengefluster - The Faceless Divine

When I was in high school I had a Totengefluster poster on my wall. I was mesmerized not only by their badass logo but by their  whole presentation. This was symphonic black metal that I could get behind! In the 6 years since I fell in love with their 2013 debut, Vom Seelensterben the band has only gotten better. The transcendent sonic punishment of this record is a marked improvement over their 2017 album Im Nebel der Vergänglichkeit. The band has only expanded the range of what they can do whilst staying true to themselves.

The Faceless Divine continues to impress because of the range of emotions the band masters on it. Tracks like The Hollow Wanderer (Cursed) sit nicely alongside straight up ragers like Grant Us Thy Blessing. It's impressive to see the ease with which Totengefluster dart across their chosen soundscape. The Faceless Divine is, as a result, a truly masterful release. It shows us a band who have spent years honing their craft only to now be at a point where they can unleash symphonic black metal hell at a level few of their peers dare match. They have crafted something darkly bombastic and inherently fascinating.

Totengefluster have been a favorite of mine since high school for very good reason - they are among the best at a very specific breed of black metal. They have taken a sound that is often viewed as oversaturated and even a little silly and been able to strip it back to its core elements to put together something impressive. Though they may lack the youthful rage they had on earlier efforts, this album still speaks to just how far Totengefluster have come in their decade plus career, it makes for compelling listening.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/totengefluester

Summoning - With Doom We Come

To long time readers it's fairly obvious that I'm kind of a metal dweeb and I like to think that that's a big part of why you read this site. Few bands however bring out the dorkery as much as Summoning. Coming at a point where the dungeon synth genre they godfathered is at an all time peak in popularity, their latest effort With Doom We Come, their first new release in five(!) years feels like a natural continuation for this classic band who have captured my imagination time and time again since I was 14.

There is something incredibly powerful about this bands laid back approach to the genre with roaring guitars lying underneath gorgeous synths which craft incredibly articulate atmospheres for the Tolkien derived stories that have always defined the band. There is a very real power and emotion behind the work of Summoning, a sort of deepset passion that has made this band a longtime favorite for so many. Yes the long form songs and sheer nerdiness of the work can be alienating but I think for a lot of us that's the appeal. This is black metal built to appeal to a very specific type of fan and one that is going to keep us delving ever deeper.

So I invite you to join me in getting lost in this record. With Doom We Come is Summoning doing what they do best for a glorious hour. Sure it might take some patience for the uninitiated but for those of us who are thrilled to once more wander through the bold fields of Middle Earth, to gaze upon the myth of Eru and to remember the might of the once proud Numenoreans this is a rare treat indeed. Every entry in Summoning's catalog is a new treasure, and this one more than most. Let them carry you away.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pg/SummoningBand

Xanthochroid - Of Erthe and Axen, Act 1

Gloriously dorky, surprsiginly intelligent, and a huge artist step forward, Xanthochroid's Of Erthe and Axen, Act 1 is perhaps the bands strongest release yet. An album that pushes far beyond the bands symphonic metal roots, Xanthochroid have added lush soundscapes to their unique musical vision, refining their unique brand of black metal into something truly transcendent and inescapably beautiful. Truly fascinating, this lyrical prequel to their previous material is the first half of a double album that promises to be one for the ages.

The beauty of Erthe and Axen, Act 1 is that it pushes well beyond what I think many of us previously thought the band was capable of. Or rather, they took their musical roots and evolved them into something much more mature. It's really exciting to hear how this band has developed in the last few years and this record paints them as a veritable force, capable of producing deeply emotional black metal on par with their peers on bands like Igorrr and Drudkh. Yet they remain far more accessible than either of those and don't think for a second that ther band has lost their cinematic touch, things just feel more refined now.

So I'll admit, I spent a significant chunk of today totally lost in what Xanthochroid conjured up here. Of Erthe And Axen, Act 1 tells a powerful story and suggests that many of the original plotlines of the band are starting to get wrapped up into something greater. I'm excited to hear how it develops on that end and I also feel like the band can't help to grow from here. This is their most immersive release yet, and to move beyond might very well be their long term destiny. This is the next step, who knows where the band will go from here?

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/xanthochroidmetal/

Carach Angren - Dance And Laugh Amongst The Rotten

Carach Angren is a band who havegrown by leaps and bounds in the last decade. Though they certainly have always been a cut above their peers I think that folks listening to Lammendam back in 2008 would have though that this band could put out a record as well concieved and uniquely put together as Dance And Laugh Amongst The Rotten. An album that perfectly balances old school symphonic black metal elements with theatrical bits that feel like they could have come from a Nightwish song, Carach Angren prove they still rule.

There is a strange and subtle unsettling filament runnin through Dance And Laugh Amongst The Rotten, the twisted melodies and potent riffs reminding us that this band truly does deserve the 'horror metal' moniker they have bestowed upon themselves. While the band always pays tribute to a lot of the tropes that help to make symphonic black metal what it is, Dance And Laugh Amongst The Rotten shows us a band who are not afraid to do quite a bit of experimenting. The swirling guitar riffs and elegantly eerie arrangements are proof positive that this is a band who will never fail to conjure up sick and demented imagery in our collective imagination.

Dance And Laugh Amongst The Rotten is epic in scale, constantly questioning what the genre can be whilst falling back on ideas that remind us why we love it so much. Carach Angren are perhaps the closest thing Season Of Mist has to a 'mainstream metal' band, and yet they have so distorted the vision of their peers in bands like Dimmu Borgir that to even compare then would be remiss. These guys have reached for so much more and been able to become titans of the genre and in a class of their own.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/carachangren

Fiendlord

Fiendlord are the kind of black metal band that really get my jimmies rustling. They understand the spirit of the genre and their powerful heart wrenching black metal is the kind of thing that makes the genre so valid in the first place. Reminiscent of their Salt Lake City peers Gallowbraid and Caladan Brood these guys do symphonic metal right. It's not overblown or silly, insteand it's poignant and powerful symphonic black metal that speaks to the spirit. The sense of triumph that dominates their songs gives them a sense of power and drives forth the ungodly hammer of their sonic assault into your skull. Fiendlord know what it means to brutalize the listener with high speed guitar work but also how to craft lush melodies that leave you grasping at the straws of reality. What I'm trying to say is that Fiendlord is black metal unleashed in a wondrous fasion in an era where far too many seek to pervert what the genre is all about - so go forth and let their Lovecraftian anthems ring out!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/fiendlordband

Diabolus Arcanium - Path Of Ascension

There is something vaguely reassuring in finding symphonic black metal bands that don't suck. I remember my mind being blown when I was a kid listening to Summoning and Caladan Brood. Meanwhile I also remember being frustrated with the mainstream bullshit of Dimmu Borgir. Diabolus Arcanium do a great job of creating Summoning-esque tracks that never get to ethereal and could appeal to more mainstream metalheads. It's certainly a balancing act but it's what makes their new record, Path of Ascension great.

What I love about this band is how they embrace their epic side whilst keeping necrogrim vocals and wonderfully tight guitar riffs. The ethereal elements are certainly there but you get something distinctly darker than you might find on a track by a band like Caladan Brood. Instead, these Indians are turned on to the profound evil of black metal, it's just that with a record like this they are also able to reflect upon the crushing humanity of the genre. In many ways it's actually hugely inspiring. You find yourself staring at a band who have managed to perfectly balance some of the most strangely intriguing ideas in the genre and create something wholly their own.

Perhaps it speaks to the power of the Indian metal scene that Diabolus Arcanium are able to create something so incredibly personal and yet also easily accessible (By black metal standards that is) The brooding crush of a song like Christ Eradication is direct proof that Diabolus Arcanium know exactly what it takes to craft some killer tracks. With an album that has a logical journey and some beautiful art done by my good friend Kunal Choksi I can't help but bend the knee and say that these guys are the new black metal overlords.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/diabolusarcanium?fref=ts

Formicarius

Man... there's something endlessly charming about over the top symphonic black metal. It has a certain sense of bombast that so few genres so gleefully indulge in these days and it's so rarely well done as Formicarius pull of on their debut EP Lake Of The Dead. While yes - the songwriting isn't 100% the overall approach is spot on, just... not too subtle at times. The dedication to black metal nihilism though is stunning and Formicarius come off as far grimmer than many of their peers. Painting epic vistas with their synths and tight angular riffs they have managed to generate the kind of distinct sound that separates the boys from the men in the black metal community. Formicarius get what it means to slaughter the innocent and their rather iconoclastic sound will keep you coming back time and time again. Now all I can do is eagerly wait for them to get a better produced more wholly thought out record to build on the delicious potential that this debut has proven the band has. Black metal for a new generation I'm excited to dig deeper!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/formicariusband/info

Ethereal - Opus Aethereum

Ethereal are certainly that, their unique brand of vaguely gothic symphonic black metal is endlessly engaging and speaks to the bands ability to carry out soul crushing melodies on top of riffs that are simply to die for. Incredibly emotive and deepset in finding a foundation to its burden Opus Aethereum sees the band roaring to bold new heights with music that is grim and thought provoking. The kind of band who give a sense of dignity and power to the genre, Ethereal are not afraid to break the rules.

I think one of the things that really gets me about this band is their sheer sense of bombast, be it in the epic intro of Opus Aethereum's first track Nomicon or in the way the band presents themselves in corpse painted glory. Ethereal have been able to get a sense of their own mad indignities which see them driving force at ungodly extremes - addicted to speed and raw energy as much as they enjoy synthesizers. This sense of balance makes for music that leaves you on edge, at once dazzled by the fantastical frills but also in awe of the manic power that Opus Aethereum channels in its approximately forty minute run time.

Burbling into insanity Ethereal have been able to carve out a very specific and powerful niche for themselves in the black metal community. Impossible to deny their barking sense of annihilation will see you cackling madly to your grave. They take every element of the symphonic black metal genre to the extreme with epic symphonies and truly ungodly shrieks coming together to create some fascinating listening that will leave you coming back to kneel at the altar again and again, ever begging for more.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/EtherealDarknessUK?fref=ts

Carach Angren - This Is No Fairytale

I'll be the first to admit it, symphonic black metal really isn't my thing, so it's rare that an album this bombastic could really catch my attention. Yes, the new Carach Angren record is a little bit corny in places and uses a lot of synths, but in the end, that's what makes it so cool. This Is No Fairytale is quite the musical journey, walking the listener from the epic introductory track Once  Upon a Time to the climactic ending of Tragedy Ever After. This is an album that carries you off, and shows that romantic music (in the traditional sense of the term) will never die.

The grand dramas carried out in these songs certainly capture the imagination if nothing else. The keyboards are able to guide the listener through the music and ease them into a place where they can explore. There are so many layers to This Is No Fairytale that it's kind of ridiculous to try digesting it in just a few listens. As I delve deeper into the lyrics and song structures I become ever more impressed with what Carach Angren have done with this album, it suggests that this bands star is still rising. Now more than ever before their very distinct sound has come to fruition and shown me that these guys have the creative juices to keep pumping out records for years to come. 

Not a lot of bands make it to their fourth record, so the fact that these guys have made it this far should get you to perk up your ears and just jam it. Carach Angren have the musical know how to create masterpieces of a sort never heard before in black metal, and as they continue to innovate I think that they will only draw more fans. A vibrant hope for the future in a genre tat used to rely on stripped back darkness, Carach Angrens lush soundscapes will keep your mind spinning for years to come.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/carachangren

Nightbringer-Ego Dominus Tuus

It's Friday afternoon, you know what that means! Time for some unholy destructive black metal from the crypt! In all seriousness, Nightbringer are a stellar European sounding black metal act from Colorado who have musical roots that trace back to Emperor and Dimmu Borgir. Their new record is epic and powerful, the kind of unrelenting black metal which gives us the ultimate freedom that we all crave. Their new record Ego Dominus Tuus is the sort of annihilating black metal that is epic and powerful, true release for all followers of the night.

Asides from being an incredibly long-running record, Ego Dominus Tuus has some of Nightbringers most epic compositions to date. The harsh vocals slot in nicely on top of some very well organized synthesizer work which leaves me on the floor grasping for more. This is the kind triumphant black metal the world needs more of, roaring out of a deeper place within all of us. These songs speak to a much darker and deeper human truth, one that it takes a long time to become fully aware of. It also shows us that this band are on top of their game, crafting pieces that are going to engage the listener, time after time.

Though this release might seem like a slog at first, once you come to the closing bars of the albums final track, The Otherness of Being, you start to get a sense of completion. Nightbringer have been able to make something that draws you in and holds you a captive, a musical slave to the triumph of pure symphonic black metal. Ego Dominus Tuus is one of the most engaging records I have heard this year and its wealth of twists and turns should keep you going for days. So dig in to the unholy pit and find your own path.

Find Nightbringer on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/NightbringerOfficial

Cryptic Forest-Ystyr

Cryptic Forest is a project by the legendary Finsterfrost. Their highly melodic and very intelligent sound makes for an engaging listen replete with exciting ideas and dynamic changes. Ystyr their debut full length (they previously put out a critically lauded EP, Dawn of the Eclipse) Is an impressive testament to the enduring and harsh power of true frostbitten black metal. The kind of music that speaks to the soul in its primitive brutality and unapologetic destruction. A product of excellent songwriting from stellar musicians, this is what black metal is supposed to be about.

The soaring keyboards on songs like Winterstorms really gives Cryptic Forest a powerful aura and sets them up as something greater than just another black metal band. Instead, they have been able to create something otherworldly and magical. The way that these songs are crafted is simply majestic and it gives the entire thing a strange and unearthly might. As you fall deeper into this record you find references to all sorts of elements of pagan lore, one particularly striking example comes in the song King of the Cryptic Forest with its reference to the legendary Erl King. This simply speaks to the blissful destruction of true pagan black metal magic.

Ystyr has a simple and beautiful pagan black metal magic, the sort of release that gets at the spirit of the genre in a way that few of their peers can match. The guys in Finsterfrost have done something special here, yet distinctly different from their main project. I really hope this isn't a one off, but instead something more, the start of something new and triumphant, evidence to the pagan might of a genre that will never die, black metal that gets at the spirit of the pure unadulterated hatred that comprehends the beautiful evil of atavistic and heart rending black metal.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/cryptic.forest

Asa Noir-The Fall of the Idols

It may be Christmas, but the metal watch never stops, and so we're coming right at you today with Asa Noir a bombastic and ferocious metal band who combine a variety of genres to get something that is powerful and unique on their new record The Fall of the Idols. Suffice to say, Wormholedeath Records was right in signing these guys. Asa Noir seem to have a very good handle on what they want to do and how to execute it in a polished and powerful way. See, Asa Noir know how to right solid metal songs and take advantage of it to craft music that will reach out and touch the soul with its otherworldly metal might.

One of my favorite parts of this record is the unique vocal stylings found in the music. The semi clean vocals have just enough grit to reflect black metal slaughter, but are clean enough that they can be rife with emotion. They slot in very nicely with the keyboards which really add a tasteful element of drama into the sound. The way they soar on songs like Torn By Thorns helps to bring the music to a whole new level. Furthermore, the bands heavy emphasis on melody makes for memorable songs that are not afraid to become full on symphonic masterpieces. The love for the theatrical helps to make The Fall of the Idols a special and fun listening experience that you won't soon forget.

So, if you want a metal record that reflects a variety of genres and is ready to give you hours of listening fun then this is very much the album for you. The Fall of the Idols represents ten top notch metal tracks that are easy to fall in love with and a blast to bang your head too. These guys understand the joy and beauty of heavy metal and have fun with it. Unafraid to approach Iron Maiden like levels of bombast it is refreshing to hear a band with such a bombastic and explosive sound. So this is, in many ways, my Christmas present to you dear reader, one of the coolest metal bands you'll find out there today.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/asanoirband

Cosmic Infusion-S/T

India has rapidly become a hotbed for vicious and majestic black metal. No other nation is consistently producing as many top notch acts. They are willing to push boundaries, question norms, and generally make things more interesting and exciting for the rest of us. The Mumbai natives of Cosmic Infusion are on exception and their debut EP, appropriately titled, Cosmic Infusion is five tracks of wonderful Indian black metal magic, bombastic in delivery and extremely tight in songwriting style and general approach. This is black metal for the 21st century.

One of the key aspects that goes into this record is the stunning keyboard lines. They are what provide the heavy metal might to the album. The tracks are deeply impacted by this use of keys as it turns the entire thing into a sort of Indian Dimmu Borgir. But don't think these guys are just clones, their are clear elements of bands like Bathory in the sound, especially in some of the more high flying guitar solos. I especially like the playing on the introduction of the first track Acronycal Eloge it represents the kind of songwriting brilliance that makes this group so great. One note, the growls are actually rather death metally at times, giving a unique twist onto Cosmic Infusions already distinct sound.

To finish, Cosmic Infusion have created something special with this latest release and it shows the potential they have to become one of the greatest bands in one of the fastest rising scenes in the world. I simply love debut EP and it shows all of the magic of their music. In short, Cosmic Infusion have the potential to create something special, moreso than they have already done. This is one of the groups who will make sure black metal will never die and I salute them for that. THIS IS BLACK METAL YOU SCUMBAGS, so come forth and worship at the unholy throne of Cosmic Infusion.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/CosmicInfusion

Hecate Enthroned-Virulent Rapture

Think back my friends, to the 90's, twas a dark time yes, but one band stood out and conquered many, that band was Hecate Enthroned. Well, now, after a nine year hiatus, they are back and are better than ever. Roaring into your speakers their new record Virulent Rapture is a powerful and fitting successor onto their previous releases. The bombastic black metal might of old is back, and the occasional death metal riff helps to keep things brutal and violent. Crashing out of the starting gate with the might of metal titans of old, this is black metal.

One of my favorite aspects of the record is undeniably that which makes Hecate Enthroned so singular. The use of choirs and orchestras is simply magnificent, very much in order with their grand old style. It shows that on Virulent Rapture Hecate Enthroned have lost none of their old school might. This is a sort of ideal comeback album, showcasing the effects that made Hecate Enthroned so good in the first place. Toss in some blazing fast riffs and sick vocal lines and you immediately see how majestic this band truly is. The guitar playing in particular is very tight, it often drives the music to new heights, giving the band a whole new glory behind them.

In closing, Hecate Enthroned have still got it, they drive things to unholy speeds and brings the bands music to a whole new level. Black metal for the ages, destructive blast beats for the master of men and howling vocals ripped from hell allow for the sound to prosper, and explode into your ears. Toss in the unholy symphonic parts and you have something truly special, these guys understand how to craft lush soundscapes that are immediately contrasted  by the frostbitten black metal might of the band. Suffice to say, The record kept me in a virulent rapture of my own.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/HecateEnthroned?fref=ts

Aberration Nexus-Libro Lacet

Ever hear a record that was so ferocious it was almost intimidating? And I'm not talking about sheer brutality or heaviness, but in speed and raw anger. If you haven't then Aberration Nexus's debut release Libro Lacet is the record for you. A raging black metal release that harnesses an unholy ferocity this is yet another great black metal release in a year that seems to be full of them With symphonic fringes and a undying dedication to the genre Libro Lacet is an addictive listen to say the least, stimulating my black metal heart into an undying and manic rage.

One of the first things that will strike you about this first release from Aberration Nexus is the way the doomy keyboard lines mesh with dark guitar parts. It all is part of the generally great songwriting, this is the kind of thing that not only showcases a certain sound, but also a musician. Chris Meyer, the genius behind Aberration Nexus, certainly seems to have his own clear musical style, no band in the world is really making music like Aberration Nexus is. Note though, influences from acts like Inverted Prophet are heard in the compositions and the lyrics often reflect the ideas of Chuck Schuldiner.

In short, Libro Lacet is remarkably developed for a black metal debut, the kind of thing that reaches out and grabs the hearts of thousands of listeners. Aberration Nexus has a clear artistic direction and these five tracks are not enough to demonstrate all that Chris Meyers is capable of. Meaningful and powerful I am very excited to hear more from this guy. One of the best black metal debuts I have heard in years. It is simply fueled by an incredible ferocity, the kind of thing that suggests the music will never die, but only rise again, harder and stronger, more evil than ever before. 

Find out more on Facebook!

 https://www.facebook.com/AberrationNexus