Category Archives: 2024 New Releases

Album Review – Nachtmystium / Blight Privilege (2024)

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Behold the caustic new album by this iconic Black Metal musician who has clawed himself back from the abyss of a most extreme life imaginable.

San Clemente, California-based Experimental/Psychedelic Black Metal outfit Nachtmystium has returned, and after all that was said and done, mastermind Blake Judd (aka Azentrius) is still standing. Not only that, but he has clawed himself back from the abyss of a most extreme life imaginable to a much more quiet, observant, and matured artist and person. In case you know nothing about him, Blake was a prolific scammer who collected money for Nachtmystium merchandise and other goods which he did not send, being arrested and retained on grounds of theft in October 2013, but those dark days seem to be dead and gone as Blake and his Nachtmystium are back in action with their ninth studio album, titled Blight Privilege. Recorded and engineered by Blake himself with assistance by Andrew Markuszewski, with drums engineered and recorded by Jacopo Pettini at Virus Studio, mixed and mastered by Ken Sorceron at Sorceron Sound, and displaying a demonic artwork and layout by Alex Trinkl of Irrwisch Artdesign, the new album by Blake on vocals, guitars and keyboards alongside Matt Thomas also on the guitars, Ken Sorceron on bass and Francesco Miatto on drums offers everything fans have learned to love (or hate) in the music by Nachtmystium, from its harsh, rasping vocals to the fierce hum and whirr of guitars burning with an ice cold fire, and of course moments of ecstatic and exalted beauty in hellish soundscapes, like what’s found in the project’s (in)famous trilogy formed of Instinct: Decay (2006), Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. I (2008), and Addicts: Black Meddle Pt. II (2010).

And one of those sinister, cryptic spoken excepts kicks off the opening tune, entitled Survivor’s Remorse, being gradually joined by the crisp riffs by Blake and Matt, therefore resulting in a song perfect for darkening your putrid souls for all eternity; followed by Predator Phoenix, an exciting, thrilling and vibrant Black Metal extravaganza by Blake and his horde where his harsh vocals sound fantastic, not to mention the fierce but intricate beats by Francesco, and of course the fact Blake simply exposes his dark past in the song’s official video. Then investing in a more melodic, cadenced sonority, it’s time for the Melodic Black Metal aria A Slow Decay, with their strident riffs penetrating deep inside our minds, whereas Conquistador is another straightforward Black Metal song with melodic and atmospheric nuances, with Blake roaring with tons of anger until the very end. Moreover, its imposing background also brings an extra touch of obscurity to the overall result.

There’s no time to breathe as Blake continues to haunt our souls in Blind Spot, supported by the rumbling kitchen by Ken and Francesco. In other words, it’s a great song for some vigorous headbanging or for some decent circle pit action during their live shows, no doubt about that. The Arduous March is an eerie, phantasmagorical creation by Nachtmystium, overflowing anguish and darkness to the melodious riffs by Blake and Matt, sounding doomed at times and flowing majestically until its climatic finale; and last but definitely not least, Blake will melt our faces with his Melodic Black Metal in the title-track Blight Privilege, with Francesco enhancing the song’s punch considerably with his classy beats and fills, turning it into a superb way to close the album and welcome Blake back to the world of metal (even if a lot of people don’t wanted it to happen).

Blake and his alter-ego Nachtmystium can only be found on X (or Twitter) of all social media, maybe due to all of his past issues, but you can surely enjoy his music on YouTube and on Spotify. Also, you can purchase a copy of the excellent Blight Privilege from the project’s own BandCamp, from the Prophecy Productions webstore, or by clicking HERE or HERE, and as Blake seems to be a new person now let’s say nobody expects him to not deliver his album to whoever purchases it. A troubled past, an undeniable talent, a deep passion for Black Metal, and the courage to start again. That’s what makes the new album by Nachtmystium so compelling, therefore representing just the first step (towards the right direction) in this new phase of his controversial but striking career.

Best moments of the album: Predator Phoenix, Conquistador and Blight Privilege.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Lupus Lounge

Track listing
1. Survivor’s Remorse 7:35
2. Predator Phoenix 4:32
3. A Slow Decay 6:33
4. Conquistador 5:11
5. Blind Spot 6:35
6. The Arduous March 7:30
7. Blight Privilege 6:26

Band members
Blake Judd – vocals, guitars, keyboards

Guest musicians
Matt Thomas – guitars
Ken Sorceron – bass
Francesco Miatto – drums

Album Review – Enforced / A Leap Into The Dark EP (2024)

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Building on the momentum of their previous albums, this Crossover Thrash brigade returns with a blistering six-song EP journeying into new levels of ferocity.

Building on the momentum of their previous full-length albums War Remains (2023) and Kill-Grid (2021), Richmond, Virginia’s own Thrash Metal/Crossover brigade Enforced returns with A Leap Into The Dark, a blistering six-song EP journeying into new levels of ferocity that showcases the band’s relentless evolution through the years. Produced and mixed by the iconic Arthur Rizk (Blood Incantation, Power Trip, Kreator, Code Orange), A Leap Into The Dark delivers three brand new tracks alongside three B-sides, including a newly remastered version of “Casket” and powerful cover versions of “The Chase Is On” by English Dogs, and “Deadly Intentions” by Obituary, all masterfully crafted by Knox Colby on vocals, Will Wagstaff and Zach Monahan on the guitars, Ethan Gensurowsky on bass and Alex Bishop on drums.

Razor-edged riffs in the vein of Obituary and Slayer will pierce your damn ears in Betting on the End, a pure Crossover Thrash extravaganza where Knox barks rabidly supported by the classic beats and fills by Alex, whereas the title-track A Leap into the Dark sees Will and Zach delivering sheer electricity and heaviness through their riffs, translating into another excellent option for some sick headbanging. Deafening Heartbeats is undoubtedly a demented slab of brutality by those thrashers, offering nonstop action blasted by the quintet with Alex stealing the spotlight with his massive beats and fills; followed by Casket, bringing forward two minutes of pure American Thrash Metal where Knox vociferates nonstop, demanding us all to crush our skulls into the circle pit. In their cover for Deadly Intentions, by Obituary (check the original version HERE, from their 1989 cult album Slowly We Rot), they kept the visceral essence of the original song intact while also adding their personal touch to it, and the final result is simply insane, and the same is valid for their cover for The Chase Is On, by English Dogs (check the original version HERE, from their 1984 EP To the Ends of the Earth), showcasing their passion for classic Punk Rock and Hardcore.

In a nutshell, the fast and furious A Leap Into The Dark captures the band at the peak of their powers, delivering a sonic assault that pushes the boundaries of their genre, and you can let those talented thrashers know how much you love their music by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their music on Spotify, an of course by purchasing a copy of their hammering new EP from BandCamp, or by clicking HERE or HERE. While Enforced are taking a leap into the dark in their new EP, all of us metalheads should join them and simply slam into the circle pit, because if there’s one thing those guys certainly know how to do, that’s to craft a beautiful and fulminating fusion of Thrash Metal and Hardcore perfect for some intense moshing.

Best moments of the album: A Leap into the Dark and Deafening Heartbeats.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Century Media Records

Track listing
1. Betting on the End 3:42
2. A Leap into the Dark 4:16
3. Deafening Heartbeats 3:11
4. Casket 1:53
5. Deadly Intentions (Obituary cover) 2:09
6. The Chase Is On (English Dogs cover) 3:49

Band members
Knox Colby – vocals
Will Wagstaff – guitars
Zach Monahan – guitars
Ethan Gensurowsky – bass
Alex Bishop – drums

Album Review – Grand Magus / Sunraven (2024)

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After a very long wait, Sweden’s own Heavy and Doom Metal institution is back with a new collection of battle hymns inspired by the tale of Beowulf and Grendel.

In their over 20 years of career, Stockholm, Sweden’s own Heavy/Doom Metal institution Grand Magus has been eternalized in the music history and looks back on a treasury full of all-time Heavy Metal anthems. Now in 2024 the band formed of Janne “JB” Christoffersson on vocals and guitars, Mats “Fox” Skinner on bass, and Ludwig “Ludde” Witt on drums is back with a new blast of memorable battle hymns entitled Sunraven, a concept album about Beowulf and Grendel, a worthy follow-up to their 2019 album Wolf God, and a lecture in heavy doom that will certainly feature among the best metal albums of the year on any list that worships the power of the mighty riff.

And the riffs by Janne sound beautifully heavy and doomed in Skybound, setting the tone in a lesson in Epic Doom Metal by the trio, with the deep, passionate vocals by Janne adding even more epicness to the overall result. Yes, I guess I’ll overuse the word “epic” on this review as you might have already notice. Then investing in a more direct Doom Metal sound we have The Wheel of Pain, with the pounding drums by Ludwig and the low-tuned bass by Mats bringing sheer heaviness to the music, followed by the title-track Sunraven, where the trio keeps delivering sonic awesomeness with their crisp, sharp riffs and blasting beats sounding majestic. It’s time to darken the skies with the melodic and heavy Winter Storms, as cold as it’s vibrant and grim, in line with their Swedish roots and loyal to their foundations; whereas The Black Lake is perhaps the most Black Sabbath-ish song of the entire album (and even of their entire career), to the point we can imagine the almighty Dio singing it. Needless to say, Janne is once again spot-on with his vocals and riffs.

The second half of the album begins with the utterly epic, electrifying Hour of the Wolf, with the guitars by Janne and the rumbling kitchen by Mats and Ludwig inviting us all to head into the battlefield together with Grand Magus, followed by Grendel, another blast of their classic fusion of Heavy, Epic and Doom Metal, offering more of their trademark riffs and beats as well as the low-tuned bass by Mats. To Heorot sounds utterly stunning form start to finish, inspiring us all to raise our fists in the air to the classic vocals by Janne while Ludwig hammers his drums in great fashion, sounding also perfect for some vigorous headbanging in the name of doom; and the power of the riff is also outstanding in the closing tune The End Belongs to You, putting a classy ending to the album and leaving us all more than eager for more (as the album has only 35 minutes of music in total).

I would have simply loved if the album had an extra 10 or 15 minutes of music, mainly because we’ve all been waiting for a new Grand Magus opus for quite some time, but let’s say the band kept Sunraven tight and sharp from start to finish  without sounding cheesy, tiresome or anything like that, which means it might have only 35 minutes in duration, but those are damn intense 35 minutes for our total delight. Hence, don’t forget to stream the album in full on YouTube and on Spotify, to follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, and above all that, to grab a copy of the hammering Sunraven by clicking HERE. “The album is about Beowulf and Grendel. In essence, Sunraven is Beowulf, and that’s my own invention,” Janne explains. “But some of the songs are written about and from the perspective of Beowulf, and some of the songs are written about and from the perspective of Grendel, the monster he faces in Denmark. That kind of steered me and carried me through the lyrical process this time. I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve always been fascinated by that tale. These myths and legends are about all the basic things that we sing about – life, death, glory, dishonour, love, hate, overcoming difficulties, facing impossible opposition and so on.” In other words, what can sound more Heavy Metal than such a strong tale, right? And of course, only Grand Magus could bring all that to life with so much passion, epicness and glory.

Best moments of the album: Skybound, Sunraven, Hour of the Wolf and To Heorot.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Nuclear Blast

Track listing
1. Skybound 3:28
2. The Wheel of Pain 3:23
3. Sunraven 3:37
4. Winter Storms 5:15
5. The Black Lake 5:34
6. Hour of the Wolf 4:03
7. Grendel 3:32
8. To Heorot 3:00
9. The End Belongs to You 3:21

Band members
Janne “JB” Christoffersson – lead vocals, guitars
Mats “Fox” Skinner – bass, backing vocals
Ludwig “Ludde” Witt – drums

Album Review – Avtotheism / Reflections Of Execrable Stillness (2024)

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A Death Metal work-of-art consisting of two parts, the first revolving around the relationship between Man and Nature, while the second focuses on the connection between Man and God.

“We are entangled in illusions of movement
Lying into incarnations of hush”

Formed in Brescia, Italy in 2016, Technical Death Metal horde Avtotheism crafts a unique blend of Death Metal by adding sulfurous, atmospheric and dark ambient elements to their sound, which is exactly what you’ll get in their newborn beast titled Reflections Of Execrable Stillness, the follow-up to their 2021 debut The Sleeper Awakens. Displaying a beautiful painting by Vama Marga, the new album by P on vocals, R on the guitars, L on bass and N on drums consists of two parts, with the first four tracks being brand new, unreleased material composed in 2022, while the second part is a single, challenging 17-minute song written between 2016 and 2017, and while these two parts deal with different topics, yet they’re inherently linked, as the first is a concept revolving around the relationship between Man and Nature, the cyclic nature of time and events, while the second, on the other hand, is a monolithic song focusing on the connection between Man and God.

Multitudes Of The Sand I is utterly experimental and progressive during a good part of its intro before razor-edged riffs and blast beats fill every single space in the air in a beautiful feast of Technical Death Metal, all boosted by the cadaverous roars by P, whereas Multitudes Of The Sand II already begins in full force to the massive drums by N, flowing majestically until the very last second with tons of intricacy and rage bursting from N’s classic drums, therefore resulting in one of the strongest songs of the album. Then we have Incarnations Of Hush, as heavy and infuriated as it’s phantasmagorical and progressive, and definitely not recommended for the lighthearted, with the guest solo by Matteo Gresele (Ad Nauseam) bringing an extra touch of insanity to the music; connecting with the atmospheric, ethereal Upon Wrecks Of Desolation, one of those cryptic instrumental tunes that puts an end to the first part of the album before the band attack all of our senses with 17 minutes of uncanny Death Metal entitled Dogma Sculptured In The Flesh, a venomous, thunderous creation by the band overflowing violence, hatred and obscurity where the guitars by R sound absolutely austere and evil, not to mention how deep, enraged the growls by P are during the entire song. Put differently, it’s like multiple songs in one, a metallic and experimental sonic voyage that ends in a beyond atmospheric way for our total delight.

The name Avtotheism is used to describe both sacredness and iconoclasm, the elevation of the self beyond religion and divinity, and add to that the band’s lyrics dealing with philosophical concepts of the end of times and human annihilation and you have a bold, caustic blend of Death Metal perfect for the apocalypse. Hence, don’t forget to follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, to stream their wicked music on Spotify, and to purchase the excellent Reflections Of Execrable Stillness from Avantgarde Music or from Sound Cave, strengthening your connection with Nature, with God and, consequently, preparing your soul for the inevitable end of our decaying world.

Best moments of the album: Multitudes Of The Sand II and Dogma Sculptured In The Flesh.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Unorthodox Emanations

Track listing
1. Multitudes Of The Sand I 6:55
2. Multitudes Of The Sand II 5:40
3. Incarnations Of Hush 4:56
4. Upon Wrecks Of Desolation 3:26
5. Dogma Sculptured In The Flesh 17:06

Band members
P – vocals
R – guitars
L – bass
N – drums

Guest musician
Matteo Gresele – guitar solo on “Incarnations Of Hush”

Album Review – Torrefy / Necronomisongs (2024)

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This Canadian horde is offering us all the Songs of the Dead in their new opus, a fusion of ripping Thrash Metal and abrasive Black Metal.

Formed in 2011 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, the unrelenting Blackened Thrash Metal horde known as Torrefy has just unleashed upon humanity their fourth full-length beast, titled Necronomisongs, following up on their 2020 album Life Is Bad. Recorded by Torrefy and Cody Baresich at Circle A Studios, mixed by Cody Baresich, mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, and displaying a cadaverous artwork by Blackstory, the new album by John Ferguson on vocals, Adam Henry and Ben Gerencser on the guitars, Simon Smith on bass, and Daniel Laughy on drums brings to our avid ears ripping Thrash Metal and abrasive Black Metal as its prime elements, yet the band’s self-described unorthodox approach to composition has paid big dividends, as the album slashes, burns, and genre-bends with unhinged ferocity, all without sacrificing an ounce of memorability.

Of Wind and Worm offers a ruthless attack from the very first second, with a demonic roar by John already welcoming everyone to the band’s thrashing extravaganza while the wicked solos by Adam bring an extra dosage of fury to their sound. Adam and Ben put the pedal to the metal in Street Reaper, with the support of the rumbling bass and drums by Simon and Daniel, respectively, resulting in a sulfurous display of Thrash Metal by the band, followed by Corpseback Rider, portraying a beautiful name for a heavy and grim creation by Torrefy, with the deep gnarls by John sounding inhumane. And Arachnomancer starts in an eerie way, kinda jazzy to the low-tuned bass by Simon, exploding into a Skeletonwitch-like sound to the massive, venomous beats by Daniel.

Back to a more infernal sonority, the band will crush our damned souls to pieces in Enslaved New World, a true Blackened Thrash Metal beast where John’s demented vociferations are nicely supported by the riff, bass and drum hurricane crafted by his bandmates, whereas Nature Vs Torture is another song with a very peculiar name surpassing the six-minute mark, with the strident and piercing riffs by Adam and Ben sounding absolutely thrashy and vile. Those guys certainly know how to name their songs in a fun way, which is the case with Apex Shredatorr, and the song’s epic, somber intro once again evolves into a metallic party by the band, showcasing their love for the riff and sheer violence. And last but not least, the band ventures through more melodic lands in Total Perspective Vortex without forgetting their usual rage and heaviness, and the final result is perfect for some action inside the pit with Daniel dictating the pace with his intricate beats and fills.

You can join the dark side of Thrash Metal by listening to Necronomisongs in full on YouTube and on Spotify, by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram to stay updated with all of their news and tour dates, and of course, by purchasing their sulfurous new opus from their own BandCamp page, from the Witches Brew webstore, or by clicking HERE. The Necronomicon might be the Book of the Dead, but let’s say Torrefy are bringing to our putrid ears the Songs of the Dead with their caustic new album, and you better be ready because once you start listening to it, you’ll begin your one-way descent into the underworld.

Best moments of the album: Of Wind and Worm, Enslaved New World and Total Perspective Vortex.

Worst moments of the album: Arachnomancer.

Released in 2024 Witches Brew

Track listing
1. Of Wind and Worm 5:34
2. Street Reaper 4:18
3. Corpseback Rider 4:38
4. Arachnomancer 5:49
5. Enslaved New World 5:48
6. Nature Vs Torture 6:20
7. Apex Shredatorr 6:06
8. Total Perspective Vortex 6:25

Band members
John Ferguson – vocals
Adam Henry – lead guitar
Ben Gerencser – rhythm guitar
Simon Smith – bass
Daniel Laughy – drums

Album Review – Dragoncorpse / The Fall of House Abbarath EP (2024)

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This international Powercore army is back into the battlefield armed with a brand new EP, taking their already innovative, energetic sound to a whole new level.

Back into the battlefield and armed with a brand new EP entitled The Fall of House Abbarath, International Symphonic Deathcore/Power Metal dynamos Dragoncorpse took their already innovative, energetic sound, plus all feedback gathered from the release of their 2023 debut EP, The Drakketh Saga, to heart and used it to refine their approach in their new release. Produced by the band itself alongside Matt Schmidt, who was also responsible for all mixing and mastering, and displaying a killer artwork by Avellustration, the new EP by Mardy Leith on vocals, Kris Chayer on the guitars, Noah Nikolas Laidlaw on bass, Justin Gogan on drums, and Mark Marin on all orchestrations takes place in the space between “Sunlover” and “Blood And Stones” (both songs from The Drakketh Saga), offering a heavy yet very melodic sound perfect for admirers of the music by Dragonforce, 3 Inches of Blood, Nekrogoblikon, Lorna Shore and Brand of Sacrifice, among others.

An Introduction To [HEROISM] is a wicked spoken track that introduces the listener to Dragoncorpse’s realm of dragons, warriors and battles, exploding into the heavy and epic Welcome Home, where Mardy delivers his Deathcore-infused vocals supported by the riffs by Kris and the whimsical orchestrations by Mark, followed by I Live… AGAIN!, even more infuriated and heavier than the previous song, with the pulverizing beats by Justin inviting us all to head into the battlefield together with the band, showcasing a great balance between harsh screams and Power Metal clean vocals. A Quest For Truth starts in a weird dancing way, almost sounding pop, but quickly morphing into another Power Metal attack by Dragoncorpse with all background keys and visceral gnarling enhancing its punch. Then featuring guest vocals by Lauren Coleman we have Whisper on the Wind, a dark and enfolding ballad (if we can call it this way) that soothes our souls before their last metal aria titled Fear and Hunger, showcasing a venomous riff and bass attack by Kris and Noah while Justin keeps hammering his drums in the name of heavy music (and dragons).

“For new fans, I believe we’ve added more elements of deathcore and power metal while adding more excitement into the music for an authentic listening experience like no other band,” Noah explains. “We put a lot of emphasis on the atmosphere of the music,” adds Justin. “Throughout the entire EP there is a medieval theming that resonates in the music that keeps the tracks feeling refreshing and fun. With the addition of Mark on keys/orchestration, he brought with him a completely different approach to songwriting that I am sure fans are going to appreciate!” Hence, if you want to experience all that sonic madness brought into being by this multinational entity from Australia, Canada and the United States, you can purchase The Fall of House Abbarath from their own BandCamp, from the Shattered Earth Records webstore as a CD or as a vinyl, as well as by clicking HERE. Also, don’t forget to start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, and to stream more of their music on Spotify, letting their Powercore invade your ears as you prepare to march into battle to fight dragons and, of course, to raise your horns to one of the most unique bands of the current scene.

Best moments of the album: I Live… AGAIN! and Fear and Hunger.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Shattered Earth Records

Track listing
1. An Introduction To [HEROISM] 3:22
2. Welcome Home 3:15
3. I Live… AGAIN! 3:55
4. A Quest For Truth 4:38
5. Whisper on the Wind 3:49
6. Fear and Hunger 3:59

Band members
Mardy Leith – vocals
Kris Chayer – guitars
Noah Nikolas Laidlaw – bass
Justin Gogan – drums
Mark Marin – orchestration

Guest musicians
Nick Miller – guitars on “I Live… AGAIN!”
Lauren Coleman – vocals on “Whisper on the Wind”

Album Review – Notturno / Our (2024)

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The newest chapter in the story of this Italy-based Atmospheric/Depressive Black Metal entity continues the exploration of the human psyche and our obsessive compulsions.

One year to the date of their last album, titled Inside, and two years after their debut opus Obsessions, the newest chapter in the story of Italy-based Atmospheric/Depressive Black Metal entity Notturno has just seen the light of day once again in the form of their new album Our, continuing the exploration of the human psyche and our obsessive compulsions. Recorded at BVNKER Studio, with vocals recorded at HK Studios and drums recorded by Stefano Nuccetelli at Music Up Studio, mixed and mastered by Stefan Traunmüller at Soundtempel Studio, and displaying a captivating atwork by Sky Studach, with photos by Riccardo Ziosi and featuring model Giulia Simonelli, the new album by vocalist Kjiel and multi-instrumentalist Vittorio Sabelli, alongside session drummer Aeternus (aka Sven Vinat), is rooted in Atmospheric and Depressive Black Metal with classical instruments incorporated into the compositions, only adding to the rich sonic tapestry, though perhaps never as seamlessly as on this latest album.

And it’s classic Notturno in the intro Adagio, with the dark, deep sounds of the clarinet by Vittorio generating a truly menacing ambience perfect for the band to crush our souls in Inside, where the delicate but piercing instrumental pieces are exactly what Kjiel needs to shine on vocals, overflowing melancholy and flowing majestically until the very last second, therefore connecting in a beautiful way with Anymore, which starts in a serene manner to the acoustic guitars by Vittorio, alternating between utterly introspective moments to the gentle vocals by Kjiel and sheer heaviness and obscurity with harsher riffs and roars, resulting in a multi-layered aria of Depressive Black Metal. Then all explodes into the heavy-as-hell, Black Metal-infused Paranoia, with Vittorio and Aeternus demolishing our damned souls with an infuriated eight-minute wall of sounds full of classic riffs, beats and fills, with its calm interlude bringing peace to our rotten souls before all hell breaks loose again to the devilish vociferations by Kjiel; and lastly, it’s time for Vittorio to reach deep inside our hearts with his piano in the closing tune Doors, with Kjiel darkly declaiming the song’s lyrics, before morphing into a stylish Depressive and Atmospheric Black Metal onrush and ending in a gentle, somber way.

Such an amazing Italian duo of darkness is waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with more of their music, news, tour dates and so on, and don’t forget to also stream their eerie creations on Spotify and, above all that, to purchase Our from the Hypnotic Dirge Records’ BandCamp or webstore, adding an extra touch of obscurity to your collection. Kjiel and Vittorio more than just complete each other in a “Beauty and the Beast” style, specially because Kjiel is also a beast; they actually represent one single entity which purpose is to bring darkness and melancholy to our hearts, with Our being the perfect follow-up to Obsessions and Inside, continuing to pave the duo’s beautiful path to a land where there’s no hope, nor light.

Best moments of the album: Anymore and Paranoia.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Hypnotic Dirge Records

Track listing
1. Adagio 3:53
2. Inside 7:39
3. Anymore 10:14
4. Paranoia 8:08
5. Doors 8:15

Band members
Kjiel – vocals
Vittorio Sabelli – guitars, bass, clarinet, bass clarinet, piano, keys

Guest musician
Aeternus – drums

Album Review – Infirmum / From The Depths I Cried (2024)

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This Finnish Symphonic Doom Metal band returns with their captivating sophomore album, offering an atmospheric journey through the darkest corners of the human soul.

Formed in early 2019 in the Finnish city of Jyväskylä, Symphonic Doom Metal outfit Infirmum has been approaching the genre in a unique and complex way with a sound that explores aspects of classical music combined with the traditional weight and melancholy of doom, having already released their debut album Walls of Sorrow, in 2020, followed by the EP The Great Unknown, in 2022. Now in 2024, the band formed of Sabine Blodwin (Moonwitch, Draconian Opera, Pettalom) on vocals, Taka Eliel (Sanctuary of Hate) on vocals and bass, Erna Siikavirta (Lordi, Children of Bodom, Sinergy, Arthemesia, Deathlike Silence) on keyboards, Joonas Siikavirta (Begrim) and Timo Solonen (Grain of Pain) on the guitars, Hanna-Leena “Hanska” (Mourning Wood) on drums, and Elya on cello is unleashing their sophomore opus, titled From The Depths I Cried, pointing to an exciting new direction in their career. Recorded by the band itself, mixed by Tuomas Kokko at Electric Fox Studios, and mastered by Samu Oittinen at Fantom Studio, the album brings forward heavy music that can be described as profound and conflicted, exploring the darkest sides of human emotions, diving into the depths of madness, pain, sickness, and death, while still finding brief moments of hope, offering an atmospheric journey through the darkest corners of the human soul.

Eerie sounds gradually grow in intensity in the sluggish, grim and visceral opening track Pact until the phantasmagorical keys by Erna give the song a strong Doom Metal vibe, with the vocal duet of Sabine and Taka sounding truly haunting, whereas the following tune, titled Everlasting, begins in a even more obscure way, again presenting cryptic background elements before Hanna-Leena begins hammering her drums in the name of doom and with Taka gnarling like a demonic entity nonstop, not to mention how melodic and melancholic the cello by Elya sounds and feels. Then the band goes full Blackened and Funeral Doom in Burn, sounding as heavy as it can be to the massive drums by Hanna-Leena and the guttural roars by Taka.

Deception is another eight-minute feast of darkened sounds with an enfolding atmosphere, with Sabine hypnotizing us all with her darkly melodic vocals supported by the band’s classic riffs and the always charming cello by Elya; and the crying sound of the cello sets the tone in Peace, taking the song’s melancholy to a whole new level. Furthermore, the name of the song is deceiving as the peace they’re singing about might be just outside, while inside you can feel all of their grief and pain. It’s then time for Infirmum to blast their heaviest sonority in Ephemeral, with the sharp riffs by Timo and Joonas walking hand in hand with the hammering drums by Hanna-Leena, while Erna and Elya build a whimsical background to add extra layers to their music. Lastly, a ritualistic start morphs into one final shot of doom by Infirmum titled Icamiabas, with the keys by Erna exhaling obscurity. It’s not the strongest song of the album, but still a decent one to conclude the band’s black mass.

Not many bands can blend the ethereal sounds of Symphonic Metal with the sheer heaviness of Doom Metal like what Infirmum have to offer in their new album (already available in full on Spotify), and you can show your support and admiration for such an amazing band from the land of ice and snow by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their YouTube channel, and above all that, by grabbing a copy of From The Depths I Cried from BandCamp, from Record Shop X, or by clicking HERE. As mentioned, Infirmum are exposing the darkest sides of human emotions in their newborn spawn, inviting us all for a one-way trip to the depths of doom.

Best moments of the album: Everlasting, Deception and Ephemeral.

Worst moments of the album: Icamiabas.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Pact 9:01
2. Everlasting 7:57
3. Burn 5:18
4. Deception 8:07
5. Peace 8:28
6. Ephemeral 7:51
7. Icamiabas 5:46

Band members
Sabine Blodwin – vocals
Taka Eliel – harsh vocals, bass
Timo Solonen – guitars
Joonas Siikavirta – guitars
Erna Siikavirta – keyboards
Hanna-Leena Lassila – drums
Elya – cello

Album Review – Mork / Syv (2024)

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The lone wolf Thomas Eriksen strikes again with Mork’s seventh full-length opus, representing the project’s most expressive and diverse works to date.

Following on from vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Thomas Eriksen’s self-titled Udåd project debut earlier this year, the new album by Halden, Norway-based Black Metal entity Mork, entitled Syv, emerges as the new pinnacle of Mork’s and Thomas’ ever-evolving journey, as well as a creative expansion both sonically and compositionally over all prior works, including his 2023 opus Dypet. Recorded and mixed by Thomas himself, with engineering assisted by Freddy Holm (who also contributes with strings and synths), mastered by Maor Appelbaum and Jack Control at Enormous Door, and displaying a visceral artwork by David Thiérrée, Syv also represents Mork’s most expressive and diverse works to date, with exquisite melodies interspersed with brutal and even occasionally progressive riffs amid an ever-present air of melancholy, forming a perfect backdrop for Thomas’ thematic dive through the contemplations of looming mortality, and digressions through the depths and contrasts of human existence.

It takes only a few seconds for Thomas to begin roaring like a demonic creature in the opening tune I tåkens virvel (“in the vortex of the fog”), presenting his trademark riffage and crushing beats in seven minutes of a descent into hell together with this talented Norwegian lone wolf; whereas in Holmgang the strings by guest Freddy Holm give the whole song a more Folk Metal vibe, while Thomas keeps the project’s core essence as blackened as it can be, resulting in a strong tune that should sound amazing if played live (as the band’s live lineup consists of Thomas supported by guitarist Alex Bruun, drummer Daniel Minge, and bassist Øyvind Kaslegard). Heksebål (“witch bonfire”) also follows a similar pattern than the previous song, blending the harshness of Black Metal with the more melodic and ethereal sounds of Folk Metal, with Thomas delivering an amazing performance on drums throughout the entire song; and back to a more visceral, old school Black Metal sonority, Thomas puts the pedal to the metal in Utbrent (“burned out”), with his enraged gnarls and sharp riffs haunting the souls of the lighthearted.

The album continues to spread darkness to our damned hearts in Med døden til følge (“with death to follow”), presenting a more Melodic Black Metal vibe than its predecessors, not to mention it’s an excellent option for some evil headbanging, and it’s time for another Black Metal attack by Thomas entitled Ondt blod (“bad blood”), offering our ears more of his classic Black Metal riffs and beats. Then an obscure start evolves into a massive feast of hammering sounds in Tidens tann (“the ravages of time”), keeping the album at a high level of rage and animosity, followed by Til syvende og sist (“ultimately”), the second to last song of the album, which is just a regular instrumental track that doesn’t add much to the whole experience; flowing into the introspective tune Omme (“about”), an acoustic creation by Thomas where he only uses his clean vocals to give it a more melancholic vibe.

Syv can be savored in full on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to show all your support to Thomas and his alter-ego Mork, you can purchase a copy of the album by clicking HERE or HERE, and also stay updated with all things Mork by following the project on Facebook and on Instagram, including of course their fantastic live performances. After seven sensational full-length albums in the span of only 11 years, I believe we won’t have to wait too long for Thomas to stun us all with another blast of the music by Mork, and when that happens the skies will get dark and we’ll all be embraced by a soothing void once again just like what the music found in Syv can do to our rotten souls, always in the name of top-of-the-line classic and modern-day Norwegian Black Metal.

Best moments of the album: I tåkens virvel, Utbrent and Ondt blod.

Worst moments of the album: Til syvende og sist.

Released in 2024 Peaceville Records

Track listing
1. I tåkens virvel 7:14
2. Holmgang 4:27
3. Heksebål 5:41
4. Utbrent 6:15
5. Med døden til følge 5:49
6. Ondt blod 4:05
7. Tidens tann 5:55
8. Til syvende og sist 5:30
9. Omme 4:17

Band members
Thomas Eriksen – vocals, all instruments

Guest musician
Freddy Holm – strings and synths

Album Review – Avernus / Grievances (2024)

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A beast of an album that represents the return to action by one of the premiere bands mixing death with doom elements, and by far their most cohesive and powerful recording to date.

Established in 1992 in Chicago, Illinois, Atmospheric Doom/Death Metal outfit Avernus (which, in Roman mythology, was the name for the underworld) was one of the premiere bands mixing death with doom elements as evidenced by early demos over the next couple years. However, after recording a couple more demos, the band wallowed in obscurity in the 2000’s despite the efforts of remaining constant member, founder Rick McCoy, slowly crumbling away. Recorded and engineered by Joe Scaletta at Word Of Mouth Recording (with drums recorded at Bricktop Recording, and additional recording by Andy Lagis at Earshot Recording), mixed and mastered by Charles Macak at Electrowerks Recording, and displaying the sinister 1878 oil in canvas “Anguish”, by August Friedrich Schenck, as the artwork, the newborn beast Grievances is the return to action by Avernus after so many decades, by far the most cohesive and powerful recording assembled by the more experienced and yet calmer heads of Rick McCoy on vocals, guitars and synthesizers, James Genenz on guitars, bass, synthesizers and vocoder, Erik Kikke on guitars and bass, and Rick Yifrach on drums and percussion to create truly a masterwork.

The phantasmagorical intro Calling The Void already brings forward the band’s trademark heaviness, with its sluggish sounds penetrating deep inside our minds before Nemesis darkens the skies with its beyond doomed vibe, where Stygian background elements and minimalist guitars are exactly what Rick McCoy needs to roar like a ruthless creature, not to mention how powerful the slow and steady beats by Rick Yifrach sound. The hammering riffs by Rick McCoy, James and Erik sound caustic and grim in Exitus, offering more of their Atmospheric Doom Metal essence, all boosted by serene, delicate synths, followed by the whimsical instrumental interlude Plateau, making the ambience even heavier and more somber until the band comes crushing like thunder in the Doom Metal aria The Burning Down, featuring spoken words by guest Corporate Death (of Macabre), inspired by giants of the scene the likes of My Dying Bride while Rick McCoy’s vocals exhale anguish and darkness.

And the atmosphere remains dense and pensive in Return To Dust, with the sluggish drums by Rick Yifrach hitting us hard with every single beat, supporting the riffs, bass and grim vocals by his bandmates, morphing into another cinematic, massive interlude titled Open Arms (To The Apocalypse), overflowing Doom Metal until futuristic synths create a stunning paradox with the harsh sound of their guitars in Utter Euphoria, featuring additional guitars by Jeff Ulbrich (of From Beyond These Walls). Abandoned is another song with a beyond atmospheric start, almost sounding like Ambient or Shoegaze, and maybe a bit too long to be honest; and there’s one final onrush of Atmospheric Death and Doom Metal by Avernus titled Quietus, with Rick Yifrach once again pounding his drums in the name of doom while the guitars by the band’s stringed trio sound as sharp as they can be, alternating between delicate passages and sheer heaviness where Death and Doom Metal converge, therefore ending the album in a climatic and piercing manner.

Grievances is more than a strong return to form by Avernus, but a must-listen for admirers of the most sluggish, darkest form of death and doom, and you can show your support to those awesome Chicago musicians by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, staying up to date with all of their news and tour dates, and of course by clicking HERE and purchasing your favorite version of their flammable new opus. The band might have taken years to get back in action, but the wait was absolutely worth it as the music found in Grievances is fantastic, and I’m sure we won’t have to endure another huge hiatus by Avernus in the coming years because after the impact of their new album in the current scene, they’ll feel more than inspired to keep spreading their doomed wings upon us.

Best moments of the album: Nemesis, The Burning Down and Quietus.

Worst moments of the album: Abandoned.

Released in 2024 M-Theory Audio

Track listing
1. Calling The Void 2:16
2. Nemesis 9:33
3. Exitus 8:10
4. Plateau 3:31
5. The Burning Down 9:26
6. Return To Dust 7:37
7. Open Arms (To The Apocalypse) 3:02
8. Utter Euphoria 4:32
9. Abandoned 5:05
10. Quietus 8:52

Band members
Rick McCoy – vocals, guitars, synthesizers
James Genenz – guitars, bass, synthesizers, vocoder
Erik Kikke – guitars, bass
Rick Yifrach – drums, percussion

Guest musicians
Corporate Death – spoken word on “The Burning Down”
Jeff Ulbrich – additional guitars on “Utter Euphoria”