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.
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Golden Core – Kosmos Brenner Review
Golden Core have shoved a lot of black metal influence into their work here. At their very best they use it as a violent cathartic contrast to follow up passages of head-nodding, rumbling stoner fare. Cosmos Tremmer makes a Kosmos Brenner!
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Madder Mortem – Old Eyes, New Heart Review
We’re lucky to have Norway’s Madder Mortem, as they embody the word progressive to a fault, never doing the same thing between any of their albums. You can always recognize a Madder Mortem song, yet not point to a stale formula in its construction. This is the mark of a band that writes progressively rather than chasing trends. Be the change you want to see!
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Sovereign – Altered Realities Review
I am not normally a thrash fan. Usually, I think of it as nothing more than a wild government conspiracy theory, but when a thrash album manages to get me to take off the tinfoil hat, it’s real special. Have Sovereign actually managed to alter Cosmo’s thrash perception?
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Dødheimsgard – Black Medium Current Review
Black Medium Current is a very groove driven album that sinks its teeth in further with each spin. It ends up taking on an hypnotic aura that makes me think of a more chilled out Schammasch, high on space mushrooms and drifting out into zero gravity. See you later Metalligator!
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Darkthrone – Astral Fortress Review
I consider late era Darkthrone to be more interesting than most of their career. They have been experimenting a lot lately and to decent results. I might even go so far as to say that Old Star is my favorite Darkthrone album after A Blaze in the Northern Sky. Yes, much better than Transilvanian Munchies.
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Defect Designer – Neanderthal Review
What a time to be alive—two great grindcore albums in a week! What a shame that Wormrot will inevitably overshadow Defect Designer’s Neanderthal, as the album is quite good. Don’t miss out!
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Crypts of the Unknown: Bergraven – Det Framlidna Minnet
