Árstíðir Lífsins – Aldrlok Review

Aldrlok, by epic pagan black metal band Árstíðir Lífsins, is a true gem, and I have not been gripped by anything this hard in a long time. After last year’s substantial 44 minute “EP” Hermalausaz (intended as a precursor) the band are serving us the real monolith they’ve been crafting since 2021 – Aldrlok. With both releases being recorded, mixed, and mastered at around the same time it was only natural that we would see Aldrlok sooner or later, and it could not have come at a better time.

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Botanist – Paleobotany Review

Hey look, it’s Botanist, the band with the hammered dulcimer! A consequence of a world filled brimful of good metal bands is that bands become known by their unique thing. Paleobotany, though, is a concept album dedicated to the marvels of the gigantic plants that existed before the Chicxulub asteroid so rudely interrupted their existence. Come on in and see if this release is as big a hit as that!

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Incipient Chaos – Incipient Chaos Review

Playing a no-frills approach to black metal, Incipient Chaos has the potential to become a refreshing, venerable force in the scene beset by cheap, middling melodic black metal and bad raw black metal that people attempt to convince others is good. And, thankfully, their eponymous debut delivers the goods and brings a fresh batch of fast, mean black metal. Well, so says the Cosmo anyway…

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