Right off the bat, the album opens with riffs that are meant to evoke the listener into a state of trance-like meditation. Album highlights include “Marbas” and “Dawn of the Red Scorpio”, two tracks that really emphasize the moments where this project excels: mixing furious Black Metal and ritualistic chant-singing that gets layered over the growls for a unique and welcome experience. Be careful not to get trapped in the trem-like… I mean trance-like state.
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Wyrgher – Panspermic Warlords Review
Mastered by Greg Chandler (of many projects and mastering jobs), the production quality on this album is fantastic. This is highlighted in songs such as “The Weeping of a Blazing Rock”, “Destroyer of the Promethean Path”, and “Supreme Leader of a Dying Star”. While retaining its own clear identity, this project still manages to sneak in subtle nods to Ungfell/Ateiggär songwriting, especially in “Weeping…” which gets surprisingly bouncy and fun for this style of Black Metal. Imagine a The Black Satans music video but in space.
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Exmortus – Necrophony Review
Crammed full of guitar solos and Neoclassical wank, Slave to the Sword was one of the best and most-listened to albums for a High School-aged Cosmo. Now, nine years and two albums since that release, Exmortus returns fresh to Nuclear Blast with Necrophony after a couple releases on Prosthetic Records. Is this one to add to the list of Exmortus successes or does this signing to a major label signal a watered-down sound for a wider audience? Slave to the wank.
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Blut aus Nord – Disharmonium: Nahab Review
I’m convinced that Vindsval, the figure behind peerless enigmatic Black Metal entity Blut aus Nord, picks which styles they want the next BaN album to sound on a whim. On any album, the listener could face beautiful Atmospheric or Melodic Black Metal, such as on one of the Memoria Vetusta albums or 2019’s Hallucinogen. Always bet on black.
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夢遊病者 (Sleepwalker) – Skopofoboexoskelett Review
Skopofoboexoskelett (or Snufferdoodle as some folks call it) is an exercise in absurdity that is layered in a pulsating amount of chaos before giving way to a hypnotic end. *Eggplant emoji*.
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Miserere Luminis – Ordalie Review
So how do Miserere Luminis compare to other bands in this largely meandering, long-winded style of metal? Cosmo sorts out what’s what in the land of the kvlt.
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Sacrenoir – Comme des Revenants Parmi les Ruines Review
Touted by the label as being a mix of various second wave bands, such as Darkthrone and Gorgoroth, this is an album that promises a throwback to the 90s with its icy style of black metal. It seems that 30 years on, the ice has melted.
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Serpent of Old – Ensemble Under the Dark Sun Review
Transcending Obscurity certainly knows how to sign and release quality Black Metal. This year alone has seen high tier stuff from Decipher and Burial Hordes. Now, Serpent of Old looks to join that pantheon. A brand new band from Turkey, their debut album Ensemble Under the Dark Sun promises long form excellence, if the promo sheet is to be believed. These sheets can be deceiving, though. Does this snake slither its way to success or does it end up eating its tail instead?
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Wilt – Huginn Review
5 years later, they are back with third “full length” Huginn. Their specific blend of atmospheric black metal captivated me, so I was fairly excited for this one. Wilted expectations.
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Crypts of the Unknown: Lorn – Arrayed Claws
