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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King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation Review
At times this album sounds like what White Zombie or Ministry might have produced had they tried to make a modern Heavy Metal album. Apocalyptic? The title is, at least.
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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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Church of Misery – Born Under a Mad Sign Review
Church of Misery eschew the drug obsessed and occult lyrics of most stoner acts, instead focusing on serial killers, cult leaders and general psychopathy. It helps color the music. Stoned serial killers
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The Anchoret – It All Began With Loneliness Review
The Anchoret squanders their potential for enjoyment by sounding both too much like Opeth and not enough like Opeth. It is baffling to Croque that a lot of the bands that form to make Progressive music decide on taking on an established sound of how this genre “should” sound like—like Opeth that is! Opeth!
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Arkona – Kob’ Review
Arkona’s 2018 album Khram really impressed Cosmo. Now, five years later, they return with Kob’. Can they impress the easily impressed Cosmo again?
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Sarmat – Determined to Strike Review
After Sarmat’s debut EP surprisingly contained a Pokémon theme cover (and low-key blew my mind in the process), I had high hopes that the full-length would repeat this in a similarly sneaky way. Would other video game themes be covered, possibly similarly obscure ones? Gotta strike ’em all?
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Nithing – Agonal Hymns Review
Nithing are a side and solo project by Vitriol’s drummer, Matt Kilner. Nithing could fall into a similar category as that band. That’s it. There’s Nithing more to say.
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Crypts of the Unknown: Loss – Horizonless
