ALBUM REVIEW: Ihsahn – Ihsahn


Eighth solo studio album from Ihsahn, the legend of Norwegian Metal, releases his modern self-titled (Candlelight Records) opus hot on the heels of his 2023 EP – Fascination Street Sessions. As the principal creative force behind Emperor, his iconic status as a Black Metal musician was secured with their impactful nineties debut album In the Nightside Eclipse which released at the height of the genre’s second wave. While the experimental and progressive influence of his solo output has somewhat gone under the radar in comparison to his work with Emperor, those that have followed his releases since The Adversary in 2006, have been treated to an extraordinary body of work. Continue reading


Enslaved Share Alternative Version of “Forest Dweller” Featuring Jo Quail



Norway’s Enslaved have released the alternative version of their track “Forest Dweller,” featuring composer and virtuoso cellist, Jo Quail, with a visualizer video created by Costin Chioreanu. It comes from the deluxe digital re-issue of Heimdal, (celebrating the album’s first anniversary) which is due out March 01st, on Nuclear Blast Records. Heimdal (Deluxe) will include the studio album alternative versions of “Forest Dweller” and “Congelia,” both with Jo Quail, bonus track “Gangandi,” plus The Otherworldly Big Band Experience 2022 streaming event featuring Shaman Elephant. Catch the alternative version of “Forest Dweller” and more below.
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Svalbard Share Video for “To Wilt Beneath The Weight”


Bristol’s Svalbard have just released a new video for their track “To Wilt Beneath The Weight.” The song is taken from their latest studio album The Weight Of The Mask. The video captures Svalbard’s highly-charged performance of the track at Cult Of Luna‘s Beyond The Redshift festival in London last year. Svalbard also recently announced a UK and European tour for March, with Norwegian psychedelic proggers Enslaved and American metal band Wayfarer.

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Enslaved Share “Gangandi” Single and Video to Announce Heimdal Deluxe Re-issue


Enslaved havejust announced the release of a commemorative, deluxe, digital re-issue of their March 2023 album, Heimdal. Featuring bonus tracks and a live concert recording, it is set to be released on March 1st 2024 via Nuclear Blast Records. With this update, the band have also released their track “Gangand,” complete with video visualizer. Enslaved will also be touring the UK and Europe in March 2024, with support from British post-hardcore quartet Svalbard and US metallers Wayfarer. Keep reading below for the visualizer and more.

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ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: STAFF PICKS – Steve Tovey’s Top Albums of 2023


As we barrel down towards the end of the year, we are sharing End of Year lists from staff, bands, and some friends in the business. Check out our Senior Editor Steve Tovey’s picks for his Top Albums of 2023!Continue reading


END OF YEAR GUEST POST: Renwar from Lightlorn – Top 10 Releases of the Year


We are still wrapping up all the goodness of 2023 with some fun guest posts from bands, friends, and fiends! Check out this list from Swedish two-piece cosmic Black metal band Lightlorn! They just dropped their new full-length album At One With The Night Sky in October and you can buy it at the link below.
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Enslaved Shares a New Single and Video for “Sequence – Live” ft. Shaman Elephant to Celebrate The Winter Solstice


Enslaved has shared a new single and a video from their 2021 livestream. “Sequence – Live” featuring prog band Shaman Elephant, from the past Enslaved “The Otherworldly Big Band Experience” livestream event and the album Utgard, Watch the ‘Sequence – Live’ video here and read a comment from the band below.Continue reading


Beyond The Gates Festival 2024 Completes its Line-up with Mayhem, Enslaved, Death SS, Black Anvil, and More!


Following a slew of newly announced special sets and tribute events, Beyond the Gates 2024 has completed its lineup with nine final bands and more exclusive performances. The festival has added Mayhem – set to perform their 40th anniversary set, icons Enslaved performing all of Frost in full, Death SS, Black Anvil, Owls Woods Graves, Attic, Syn and others. The full line-up and tickets links can be found below. The fest has also revealed its daily lineups.

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Ghost Cult’s Albums of the Year 2023 – Part 3 (20-2)


Thermal count is rising in perpetual writhing, the primordial ooze of albums continues, and the sanity they lose choosing their favorites of the year. Awakened in the morning, to more ear-pollution warnings…

Now I can only laugh, as I read our epitaph – we end 2023 with cheer, in the light of our Albums of the Year.

May you all rust in peace…Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: Damnation Festival and a Night of Salvation 2023 Live at Bowlers Exhibition Centre


 

This year’s Damnation Festival is the second since it has returned to its original home of Manchester after many years at the University of Leeds. The festival had outgrown the confines of its erstwhile venue and now takes place at Manchester’s Bowlers Exhibition Centre across three large stages. Continue reading