Black Curse had huge shoes to fill with sophomore album Burning in Celestial Poison, as the sophomore hump is the true test for bands to prove that they’re not a once-and-done affair. Thankfully, Burning in Celestial Poison not only surpasses the hump, but makes every other war metal album released this year appear as threatening as pool noodles in terms of sheer aggression and vitriol. So grab your pool noodles, we’re going to war!
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Swallow the Sun – Shining Review
The deathly doom metal of Swallow the Sun used to be offset with moments of cold beauty and increasingly pop oriented vocal lines, that still managed to feel like a fresh breath visible in the chill air. This has been turned on its head on Shining, a move that in hindsight was well telegraphed over the last two albums the band put out.
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Iotunn – Kinship Review
Access All Worlds, Iotunn’s first full-length release, took the Gator’s top spot back in 2021. While in hindsight, he may choose different these days, Aldará’s vocals are in part the anchor that makes Access All Worlds remarkable to the Gator, as the music leaves a lot of room for him to insert melodrama and meaning to the often grand sounding riffs. But will Kinship remain in kissing favor with our favorite reptilian?
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Ataraxie – Le Declín Review
Extreme metal can take many forms. But in this time of ours where acts try to out-Flanderize each other — essentially extremity fitting into the mold of extremity to be extreme — there is less and less that can actually be considered extreme. Ataraxie present their vision of funeral doom as a no-frills, heavily death metal inspired affair. It may be slow, but will it rush to the top of you doom metal essentials?
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Lowen – Do Not Go To War With The Demons of Mazandaran Review
Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran is one of the most metal album titles you’ll see this year. Dire warnings, demonology, striking statements? This is the good stuff! Why not start the Halloween festivities early this year with some HaLowen. 😉
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Dawnwalker – The Unknowing Review
While previous Dawnwalker albums have explored the realms of “post” and prog, The Unknowing shifts into a more enigmatic and spectral realm. Norgate’s vocals, guitar and keys intertwine with an eclectic mix of contributions, discreet elements like the flute which give it a faint Jethro Tull vibe without ever feeling derivative. Call. Forth. The jazz flute. And adventure into the unknown.
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Blood Incantation – Absolute Elsewhere Review
2022’s Timewave Zero served a synth-oriented ambient (zero death metal) work that felt more like a proof of concept than an album fully formed. Simple and not particularly deep synth textures could not feed what deathheads craved, and for synth enthusiasts, Timewave Zero had nothing to offer that could not be found much better elsewhere. In hindsight, that album appears to have been a necessary stepping stone. It’s not out of nowhere that Blood Incantation has called forth Absolute Elsewhere — OPEN THE FUCKING GATE.
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Typhonian – The Gate of the Veiled Beyond Review
I haven’t heard bands worshiping Unleashed, specifically Across the Open Sea era before, so that was a nice surprise upon pressing play and listening to the first proper track after the intro. However, this is not a short album, and while the music is largely serviceable, not everything works.
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Crypts of the Unknown: Incubator – McGillroy the Housefly
