Hundreds of AU was formed by the renowned veterans, who are strongly aligned towards the DIY scene– from You and I, the Assistant, and Hell Mary; aiming to fuse decades of sharp Hardcore undertones in the most volatile, vital way possible. Combining all-around chaotic riffs and intense melodies with recurring themes that revolve around journeys of personal exhaustion as well as indignation towards systemic injustice– including capitalism and urban decay.Continue reading
Striding through a bleak and unsettling journey through the scopes of arcane, malevolent sounds centered around Funeral Doom, Death-Doom, and Extreme Metal; In This House of Mourning releases a full-length entitled Enlèvement–(Self-Released). The album is a 34-minute journey surrounding the discourses of misanthropy and malevolence-centered aesthetics. Aside from the unfiltered, soul-baring thematic discourses, some of the quintessential elements of this album, when it comes to the musical side are the raw production and intricate exploration of a dark, atmospheric sonic worldbuilding.Continue reading
Heavily rooted in the traditional Doom Metal-centered alignment, Athens-based Tèlma has consistently presented melancholic sounds with ceremonial atmospheres. They have been around for roughly eight years and are profoundly inspired by many names across the globe when it comes to musical influences – including Russia’s Scald, Finland’s Reverend Bizarre, and Chile’s Procession – though most listeners probably also can sense some Candlemass-esque hints of references in their sounds.
Sweden’s DIY Stoner/Doom label Majestic Mountain Records is always best-known for releasing the most eccentric, adrenaline-fueling tunes possible, and fair to say that Arcane Desert Rituals Vol. 1 by Southern Italy’s King Potenaz is one of them!
The ever-dynamic outskirts of Oslo and their music scene always has something exciting to offer the deeper you explore, and the Norwegian rock unit MoE, which has been around since 2008, is one of them. Often described as Experimental and Noise-infused with avant-gardish Sludge undertones, they are bound to incorporate DIY approach in their creative process and present minimalist compositions in alternative and experimental ways. Well-known for involving challenging approaches in Rock and Noise settings, they aim to break boundaries in the stereotypical spectrums surrounding those two genres, aiming to provide their listeners a sonic experience laced in the depths of full-blown intensity.
Best known as a meticulous blend of Black and Death Metal that caters to the specific niche of Enslaved, Blut Aus Nord, and Spectral Wound fans, Drouth has been around for some time presenting apocalyptic sounds with brutal precision. Recently, they returned, delivering ferocious aggressions with the release of their third full-length entitled The Teeth of Time–out now via Eternal Warfare Records. Conceptually, this album narrates existentially profound topics and contemplative discourses such as the idea of decay, fate, and entropy, as well as defiance against the corrosion of time. It is also an album that exists as a form of revolt against the idea of nihilism, as a means of creative rebellion coming from Drouth.Continue reading
I recently re-listened to “Varyags of Miklagaard” by Amon Amarth and was wondering if there’s any close contender that could match their sonic nuances– coincidentally, the album I was assigned to review this time, Ordo Diabolicum by Aran Angmar, I think, passes as a close contender with vibes adjacent to “Varyags of Miklagaard” and all. Aran Angmar might not be a Viking Metal band just like what Amon Amarth is, as they primarily play Black Metal, but on my first listen, I got the impression that Ordo Diabolicum exudes that necromancer-like energy that is almost suitable as a D&D/MMORPG soundtrack– which is a fair point, considering that ancient lores and necromancy happen to be some of the recurring themes incorporated in their songwriting.
With recurring themes surrounding the discourse of existentialism and personal tales, the ever-defiant, unconventional Uppsala-based unit Slutet (whose name means “the end” in Swedish) has been presenting unorthodox, passionate tunes since around 2012. Playing mostly Experimental Black Metal, they also tend to incorporate roots of other musical styles as well, such as electronic undertones and ambiences of noise, even some psychedelic nuances– nevertheless, they keep their intensity authentic; branding themselves as a “ferocious Black Metal blitzkrieg”. So far, they have released one full-length entitled “Love & Beauty”, and they are part of a compilation entitled “Begynnelsen” which was released via the Finland-based label Behest. They also have released some stuff under the German label Manifest of Hate Creations. Lyrically, they are known for writing subversive words, deep-rooted in existential contemplations, their forms of revolt against the banality of societal norms, and cultural references.
Out via Napalm Records which initially specializes in releasing Folk Metal and Black Metal units (but later expands in terms of genre diversity), Germany’s very own Nachtblut drop their seventh studio album entitled Todschick after previously having achieved a milestone regarding their previous release Vanitas, which peaked at #19 on the German album charts.Continue reading
As a consistently profound blend of blackgaze, ambient, post-rock, and black metal, the Ottawa-bound Unreqvited led by 鬼 (Ghost) takes a groundbreaking step toward a rather structured approach in terms of their soundscapes on their new album; incorporating elements from their past releases. With the release of A Pathway to the Moon –out via Prophecy Productions–, they transition into something beyond their borders; inclined more towards intricate lyrical expressions and clean vocals rather than instrumental-heavy elements. This change of trajectory also happens because of the fact that they recently transitioned into a full touring band with heavy focus on live performances. Continue reading