LVME’s take on black metal draws broadly from the many traditions within it. The classic tremolo and blastbeat approach is used to release the pressure created by shimmering dissonance and mid-paced ritualistic melodies. LVME is easy to love.
Read more
Hadit – Metaphysical Engines Approaching the Event Horizon Review
When it comes to blackened death metal, a band needs to stand out from the rest of the crowd if it’s going to impress people given how saturated the subgenre has become in recent years. Enter Hadit. Will this Italian band travel far, or be swallowed by the blackened death metal hole?
Read more
Sacrificial Vein – Black Terror Genesis Review
If there’s one style of extreme metal that I vibe hard with, it’s what I like to call “hell sounds”. At its roots black metal, death metal, or a combination, this soundscape also is also heavily infused with ambience to craft a nightmarish atmosphere. Brand new band Sacrificial Vein are fine purveyors of this blend of haunting music on their debut album Black Terror Genesis. It seems this spine chilling genesis has really enraptured our Cosmo, but by which trickery?
Read more
Wounds – Ruin Review
Fast runs, hairpin turns and extended harmonies, Wounds does it rather competently, making my head nod during select moments and my foot tap throughout. But some albums are harder to review than others.
Read more
Defying – Wadera Review
Is it black metal? Post metal? Prog metal? These are the important questions that Anti-Peat asks regarding what Poland’s Defying have done with Wadera, a horror film inspired concept album about revenge from beyond the grave. Don’t be a-scared-a of the Wadera!
Read more
Defect Designer – Chitin Review
Defect Designer surprised in 2022 with their 18 minute Neanderthal EP, a snappy shot of grindcore-infused death metal. The EP had a raw sound and a pace that made it zip past pleasantly, setting expectations high for an eventual full length release. But will Metalligator find that the new album has a defect in its design?
Read more
Borknagar – Fall Review
Our Gator loves going on long hikes, especially when having the luck of finding a spot unoccupied by people where he can watch nature in its stillness and grandeur. Borknagar at their best manage to catch this feeling in music, if a bit more dramatically, their sound whipping between a raging storm and the calmest forest brook. You just might Fall for it too.
Read more
Ihsahn – IHSAHN Review
At this point, Ihsahn needs little introduction. His work first with Emperor and then as a solo act has established him as one of black metal’s luminaries. His blackened and avant-garde approach to metal on IHSAHN straddles emotions. It’s by turns bombastic, melancholic, tense and angry—an excellent example of why Ihsahn is such a big deal.
Read more
Second Shooter – Fury Made Flesh Review
Nowadays, when the progressive descriptor is added to melodic death metal, this means that the songs are longer without any good reason. You would be hard pressed to find a modern melodic death metal band that is creative or that looks outside its own box. Second Shooter are a band that look back instead. Are they shooting for the stars, or looking back in fury?
Read more
