Tag Archives: doom metal

The Year In Review – Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2024

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“Fans still compare me to Bruce Dickinson. I have people coming up to me and saying, Don’t you know that could’ve been you? And I tell them, That was me! I just didn’t want it..” – Paul Di’Anno

It’s hard to put into words the loss of our beloved Paul Andrews (17 May 1958 – 21 October 2024), better known by his stage name Paul Di’Anno, one of the most iconic musicians in the history of heavy music, helping Iron Maiden be what they’re today by giving that edgier vibe to the albums Iron Maiden and Killers, therefore influencing all future generations of musicians not only in Heavy Metal, but also in Punk Rock and Rock N’ Roll. He was a legend and will be sorely missed by anyone who loves good music. There’s not much we can do at The Headbanging Moose to honor his life and work, but we’ll keep celebrating heavy music in his name for as long as we can. I wish he could have played one final show in Toronto so Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I could have registered such a unique moment in the city, but unfortunately time is not always in our favor. Anyway, it might be a very sad year to the metal community worldwide with an irreplaceable loss like that, but heavy music lives on, and that’s why here we have once again The Headbanging Moose’s Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2024, excluding EP’s, best of’s and live albums, to keep the spirit alive and keep raising our horns to countless metal musicians like our great Paul Di’Anno.

1. Judas Priest – Invincible Shield (REVIEW)
Nothing can stand in the way of the Metal Gods as they raise the invincible shield of Heavy Metal.
Best song of the album: The Serpent and the King

2. Werewolves – Die For Us (REVIEW)
Australia’s most savage beast is back with their fifth studio opus, a lecture in Death Metal perfect for beating anyone back to life.
Best song of the album: Spittle-Flecked Rant

3. Aborted – Vault of Horrors (REVIEW)
These Death Metal and Deathcore beasts open their demonic vault of horrors to bring brutality, gore and evil to our damned souls.
Best song of the album: Death Cult

4. Necrowretch – Swords of Dajjal (REVIEW)
This French Blackened Death Metal horde returns blacker than ever with a magnificent opus dedicated to the Islamic Antichrist.
Best song of the album: Vae Victis

5. Gaerea – Coma (REVIEW)
The torchbearers of present-day Black Metal arise again, erupting with intensity, casting forth black ashes over the world.
Best song of the album: Coma

6. Blood Incantation – Absolute Elsewhere (REVIEW)
Blood Incantation offer us all two sensational compositions that are as confounding as they are engaging in their scope.
Best song of the album: The Stargate [Tablet I]

7. Benighted – Ekbom (REVIEW)
Let’s dive into the auditory abyss with this Brutal Death Metal and Grindcore entity armed with their newborn beast.
Best song of the album: Fame of the Grotesque

8. Fleshgod Apocalypse – Opera (REVIEW)
One of the torchbearers of Symphonic Death Metal worldwide returns with their strongest opus to date.
Best song of the album: I Can Never Die

9. Arhat – Secrets of Ancient Gods (REVIEW)
The newborn spawn by this Ukrainian horde will take you on a journey into the world of ancient gods and mysterious rituals.
Best song of the album: Abyss of Flame

10. Grand Magus – Sunraven (REVIEW)
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.
Best song of the album: Skybound

And here we have the runner-ups, completing the top 20 for the year:

11. Ecclesia – Ecclesia Militans (REVIEW)
12. The Last of Lucy – Godform (REVIEW)
13. Rotting Christ – Προ Χριστού (Pro Xristou) (REVIEW)
14. Rage – Afterlifelines (REVIEW)
15. Ingested – The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams (REVIEW)
16. Blaze Bayley – Circle of Stone (REVIEW)
17. Striker – Ultrapower (REVIEW)
18. Kerry King – From Hell I Rise (REVIEW)
19. Accept – Humanoid (REVIEW)
20. Hiraes – Dormant (REVIEW)

In addition, as I always like to say, sometimes a band doesn’t need to release a full album to kick some ass, and that’s why we also have our Top 10 EP’s of 2024 to show that sometimes less is more, or maybe I should say, less is heavier!

1. Rifftera – Coda (REVIEW)
2. Trollwar – Tales from the Frozen Wastes (REVIEW)
3. Atavistia – Inane Ducam (REVIEW)
4. Ways. – Are We Still Alive? (REVIEW)
5. Enforced – A Leap Into The Dark (REVIEW)
6. Gutvoid – Breathing Obelisk (REVIEW)
7. Onslaught Kommand – Visions of Blood and Gore (REVIEW)
8. Golgothan Remains – Bearer of Light, Matriarch of Death (REVIEW)
9. Infernalivm – Conquering the Most High (REVIEW)
10. Dragoncorpse – Fall of House Abbarath (REVIEW)

Do you agree with our list? What are your top 10 albums of 2024? Also, don’t forget to tune in every Tuesday at 10pm BRT on Rádio Coringão to enjoy the best of classic and underground metal with Jorge Diaz and his Timão Metal, and every Thursday at 8pm UTC+2 on Midnight Madness Metal e-Radio for the best of underground metal with The Headbanging Moose Show!

Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year! See you in 2025!

In the end, there’s no Christmas-inspired song this year, nor anything festive like that, but I’ll leave you with the official video for one of the most important songs ever recorded by Iron Maiden, one with a strong punk and thrash vibe, with the one and only Paul Di’Anno on vocals. Let’s raise our horns to him forever and ever, my fellow metalheads! RIP legend!

Album Review – Zen Disdain / Inanition (2024)

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An up-and-coming Netherlands-based Blackened Doom/Death Metal outfit will reach deep inside your soul with their incendiary first full-length opus.

Formed in 2021 by the creative minds behind the Symphonic Extreme Metal band Esperoza, Enschede, Netherlands-based Blackened Doom/Death Metal outfit Zen Disdain has quickly expanded into a full-bodied act, drawing talented musicians from different bands, having already released their debut EP Premonition in 2023. Now the band formed of Zoya Belous (Zoya, Esperoza) on vocals, Dmitrii Prihodko (Esperoza) on the guitars, Ivo Bijker (Krijs, Dimensional Psychosis) on bass, and Ronny Meinders (Diseased Brains, Death Squad) on drums will unleash their highly anticipated debut album, Inanition, an album that will surely captivate new audiences and solidify their place in the metal world.

The scorching, strident riffs by Dmitrii ignite the venomous opener Everpresent, with its deep guttural vocals sounding haunting and absolutely impressive throughout its almost seven minutes of a first-class hybrid of Death and Doom Metal; whereas a tempest-infused intro explodes into a feast of Blackened Doom in The Shore, also presenting elements from old school Black Metal, in special in the riffage by Dmitrii, with Zoya also delivering classy operatic vocals. It’s truly interesting how the band managed to add hints of an amalgamation of styles to their music, like in The Woods, where we can sense some Gothic and Symphonic Metal nuances thanks to the dynamic vocals by Zoya.

The title-track Inanition will darken your minds and thoughts in the name of extreme music, with the metallic, reverberating bass by Ivo and the pounding drums by Ronny hitting us hard until the very last second; and then investing in a much heavier, more electrifying sonority led by the hammering drums by Ronny we face Spiritual Desert, while Zoya continues to hypnotize us all with her powerful vocals. Symbols again presents a strong and hammering Doom Metal vibe, with the piercing riffs by Dmitrii walking hand in hand with the blast beats by Ronny, and the closing tune What Remains of Us is sluggish and pensive from the very first second, with Zoya delivering her most melancholic, somber vocals lines of the whole album, sounding and feeling like a classic by Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride.

Blending diverse influences to craft a style that’s as haunting as it is dynamic, Zen Disdain are on fire throughout their entire first full-length opus, which you can grab a copy from their own BandCamp page. Don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and stream their music on Spotify, letting the dark and mesmerizing music by those Dutch metallers reach deep inside your soul while they conquer the world of heavy music with more excellent albums like Inanition, setting the bar high for any other band hailing from their stunning homeland and, of course, darkening the skies with a huge dosage of high quality doom for our total delight.

Best moments of the album: Everpresent, Spiritual Desert and Symbols.

Worst moments of the album: Inanition.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Everpresent 6:48
2. The Shore 6:07
3. The Woods 6:01
4. Inanition 5:57
5. Spiritual Desert 6:37
6. Symbols 7:30
7. What Remains of Us 8:42

Band members
Zoya Belous – vocals
Dmitrii Prihodko – guitars, harsh vocals
Ivo Bijker – bass
Ronny Meinders – drums

Album Review – Noitasapatti / Sankarin matka (2024)

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This ruthless Finnish Black Metal horde returns with a scorching yet cold and vile concept album where its dreamlike story slowly advances towards indescribable horrors.

Formed in the spring of 2017 in Pori, a city in Finland and the regional capital of Satakunta, the unrelenting Black Metal horde known as Noitasapatti, which is Finnish for “witch’s sabbath”, is set to darken the skies with the release of their sophomore album, titled Sankarin matka, or “a hero’s journey”, the follow-up to their 2022 debut Kuolemattomille maille. Displaying a broad range of sounds while also bringing a lot of fresh soundscape to their music, Sankarin matka is a concept album consisting of an intro and seven songs where its dreamlike story slowly advances towards indescribable horrors, which waver between dream and reality until the truth is exposed in all of its heinousness, while the music is clearly inspired by 90’s Black Metal, British Death and Doom Metal, and even Progressive Rock, showcasing all the talent and dexterity by Erakko on vocals, bass, mouth harp and horns, Liekkiö on the guitars, Kadonnut on keyboards, and Häviö on drums.

Tulikipuna, or “red fever”, is a beyond cinematic intro, a phantasmagorical start to the album that nicely flows into Tuhatkasvoinen, or “thousand faced”, where Erakko begins screaming like a maniac supported by the classic Black Metal riffs by Liekkiö. After that, we have the the title-track Sankarin matka, bringing to our avid ears more of their fusion of Black Metal with experimental sounds, with the intricate beats by Häviö and the wicked keys by Kadonnut sounding absolutely electrifying; and their fusion of raw Black Metal with atmospheric and melodic sounds works really well in Paluu liekkeihin (“back to the flames”), the most Atmospheric Black Metal song of the entire album.

Käskyläisen sanat (“orderly words”) continues with their piano-infused extreme music attack, sounding even more piercing and devilish to the caustic riffage by Liekkiö while Erakko barks the song’s Finnish lyrics like a creature of the underworld, whereas Henkien polulla (“on the path of spirits”) sounds haunting and captivating from the very first second, reminding me of some of the songs from the early days of Cradle of Filth. Moreover, Kadonnut has mastered the art of devilish keys, making the song feel truly experimental at times. Then creepy guitars and bass lines will penetrate deep inside your skin in Matka halki myrskyjen, or “a journey through storms”, despite lacking more energy and getting stale after a while, though. Finally, let’s embark on a 10-minute voyage through the realms of cryptic Black Metal with Noitasapatti in Tähtivaeltaja, or “star trek”, where the bitterly cold gnarls by Erakko match flawlessly with the phantasmagorical sounds crafted by his bandmates, with its piano outro exhaling melancholy for our total delight.

A hero’s journey can be dark, evil and very demanding, just like what Noitasapatti have to offer us all in their new beast Sankarin matka, and if you think you have what it takes to face that infernal path you can get in touch with the band via Facebook or Instagram, stream their wicked creations on Spotify, and purchase their venomous new opus on BandCamp or from the Inverse Records webstore. However, be warned you’re going to face unimaginable horrors as soon as you hit play, proving once and for all the devilish power of Black Metal hailing from the North, sounding scorching and caustic while at the same time bitterly cold and chilling.

Best moments of the album: Sankarin matka, Käskyläisen sanat and Tähtivaeltaja.

Worst moments of the album: Matka halki myrskyjen.

Released in 2024 Inverse Records

Track listing
1. Tulikipuna 1:33
2. Tuhatkasvoinen 4:09
3. Sankarin matka 5:10
4. Paluu liekkeihin 6:21
5. Käskyläisen sanat 6:42
6. Henkien polulla 4:18
7. Matka halki myrskyjen 5:48
8. Tähtivaeltaja 9:50

Band members
Erakko – vocals, bass, mouth harp, horns
Liekkiö – guitars
Kadonnut – keyboards
Häviö – drums

Album Review – KIR / L’appel du Vide (2024)

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Behold this journey through disappointment and despair, towards disintegration, by a newborn Black Metal beast hailing from Poland.

Exploring the lowest of lows of human nature, warped and excreted by the concrete jungle, a deeply personal tale of a troubled mind entrenched in a society seething right below the surface, and a journey through disappointment and despair, towards disintegration, the scorching L’appel du Vide (which is French for “the call of the void”), the debut opus by Kraków, Poland-based Black Metal unity KIR, is a powerful testament to the band’s relentless pursuit of creative expression. Recorded by Maciej Soboń at TRIPlets Audio, produced, engineered, mixed, mastered by the band’s own guitarist and bassist Ferment, displaying a grim artwork by another member of the band, vocalist Harvest, and featuring guest drummer Krzysztof Klingbein, the album explores themes of urban isolation, human frailty, and despair, reflecting a profound awareness of music as an art form that can challenge, disturb, and inspire.

The album couldn’t have started in a more atmospheric vibe than with DestinationVoid, exploding into the Black Metal extravaganza titled Monument, where the insane beats by Krzysztof alongside the piercing guitars by Ferment build the perfect ambience for Harvest to vociferate rabidly in the name of Black Metal. Then get ready for almost eight minutes of pure sonic devastation not recommended for the faint at heart titled Znów, or “again”, where Harvest sounds absolutely merciless during the whole song while Ferment fires his most decimating riffs of the entire album, followed by Eter, the Polish word for “ether”, which starts in a grim, more introspective manner to the vile guitar lines by Ferment, showcasing hints of Doom Metal added to their sound, therefore resulting in what’s by far the most haunting, obscure of all songs. The band brings forward their final Black Metal offering in Apoptosis, where their most cadaverous vein arises like a demonic entity, blasting almost ten minutes of no hope, nor any sign of peace, while the despair flowing from Harvest’s anguished roars is truly outstanding, consequently putting a terrific conclusion to such a flammable opus.

L’appel du Vide is a grungy, suffocating invitation to explore the “call of the void” within oneself – that impulse to teeter over the edge, to feel the pull of darkness and walk right up to it. Hence, you can get to know more about the duo on Facebook and on Instagram, and show them your utmost support to the extreme music scene by purchasing the album from their own BandCamp page or from the Godz ov War Productions’ BandCamp or webstore. With the caustic L’appel du Vide, KIR are inviting all listeners to lose themselves in a sonic landscape where the absurdity of modern life meets the beauty and despair of the human psyche, creating an unforgettable Black Metal journey for those willing to heed the call and, consequently, keeping the fires of underground extreme music burning bright for many centuries to come, always offering us all harsh, visceral and captivating music like what’s found in the band’s debut opus.

Best moments of the album: Znów and Apoptosis.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Godz ov War Productions

Track listing
1. DestinationVoid 1:14
2. Monument 4:34
3. Znów 7:47
4. Eter 7:54
5. Apoptosis 9:28

Band members
Harvest – vocals
Ferment – guitars, bass

Guest musician
Krzysztof Klingbein – drums (session)

Metal Chick of the Month – Inka Ojala

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I grieve in darkness… All ends in silence

As December is by far the darkest month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, let’s all “dark the suns” here on The Headbanging Moose to the music by our multi-talented metal lady of the month. Hailing from the land of ice and snow, also known as Finland, she’s a bassist, keyboardist, pianist, vocalist, songwriter, lyricist, photographer and graphic designer, and just by that you can imagine how important she is to her breathtaking Melodic Death/Gothic Metal band Dark The Suns. I’m talking about the amazing Inka Ojala, who will embellish the airwaves with her melancholic and passionate music during this dark and cold last month of the year.

Born in Finland as Inka Tuomaala, but having changed her name to Inka Ojala after getting married to Dark The Suns’ own mastermind Mikko Ojala, our beloved metal diva has a very nice and decent life outside of heavy music, having attended the University of Jyväskylä and being an early childhood education teacher at Kempeleen kunta. She also mentioned in an interview that she used to work at an art museum, but I have absolutely no idea if that’s still the case.

Her main band is definitely Jyväskylä, Finland-based Melodic Death/Gothic Metal act Dark The Suns, which originally started in 2005 as a one-man project by Mikko Ojala, with the first demo recorded completely by himself. Eventually, Dark The Suns grew into a full band capable of performing live with the addition of Juha Kokkonen on keyboards, Markus Lehtinen on drums, and our metal diva (at that time still known as Inka Tuomaala) on bass, while Mikko took care of the vocals and guitars, releasing their debut album In Darkness Comes Beauty back in 2007.

As the years progressed, Inka was not only responsible for the bass duties anymore, but also for their female vocals from 2008 to 2009, and keyboards from 2010 until present day. To date, she has recorded with Dark The Suns the bass lines in the aforementioned 2007 album In Darkness Comes Beauty; was responsible for the lyrics, bass, songwriting and female vocals in their 2009 album All Ends in Silence; did the orchestrations, keyboards, songwriting, piano and bass in their 2010 album Sleepwalking in a Nightmare; played bass and keyboards in their 2021 album Suru raivosi sydämeni pimeydessä; and more recently did the female vocals, keyboards and bass in their 2023 album Raven and the Nightsky. Not only that, she was also responsible for the artwork, photography and/or graphic design of several releases by Dark The Suns, those being their 2007 album In Darkness Comes Beauty, their 2008 EP The Dead End, their 2009 album All Ends in Silence, their 2010 single Don’t Fear the Sleep, their 2010 album Sleepwalking in a Nightmare, their 2020 single Suru raivosi sydämeni pimeydessä, their 2022 single Kun Allot Kallioihin Murtuu, and their 2023 single Swans of the Frozen Waters. Inka and the band were also featured in the compilations Fear Candy 48 (Terrorizer Magazine, 2007) with the song Reflections, Gothic Spirits 7 (Golden Core, 2008) with the song The Sleeping Beauty, and Firesampler #7 (Firebox Records, 2009) with the song All End in Silence.

When asked what makes Dark The Suns stand out amongst the countless Finnish dark and extreme music bands, she said that she doesn’t really care about that, and she believes there’s always enough room for good metal music and good metal bands. She doesn’t think fans think they have to choose a particular Gothic Metal band, or a particular Doom Metal band. “I think people are usually happy when they get to know some new, good bands whose music they like and whose concerts they enjoy going to,” commented Inka. Currently formed of Mikko and Inka alongside Jani Moilanen on the guitars, the band has been on a roll since returning form their seven-year hiatus in 2020, continuing to blend heavy and dark sounds with their nature-inspired lyrics, therefore embellishing their airwaves with tons of melancholy and passion.

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Inka can also be found in another band, Jyväskylä, Finland-based Melodic Gothic/Black Metal band Crowned with Black, having released with them the two-song EP The Dragon Age back in 2010, playing keyboards in both songs, but apparently the band has already split up and there’s nothing else available from those Finnish rockers. Also, on the design and arts side, Inka was responsible for the logo in the 2019 album Ikuisen talven sarastus, and for the artwork in the 2019 single Kuura & horros, both by Finnish Black Metal horde Kaamos Warriors, which is by the way the other main band by her husband Mikko Ojala.

When asked about her idols and main influences, Inka mentioned that nature is the most important source of inspiration for her, sharing her love for rainy autumn nights and misty days. “We live in a quite small town and a very small lake and it is so beautiful in the evenings when the lake reflects all the lights around us. Nature is just beautiful in central Finland,” commented Inka, who also said that, for her, “night is more mysterious than daytime life. Familiar things seem to change a little when you’re walking alone through the city and the rain is falling on the street. It’s so beautiful when the whole world looks like it’s sleeping.”

In addition, she said she likes to read a lot, and all of those mysteries, emotions and feelings influence the music she writes. “I love Katri Vala’s poems and one of my favourite books is Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s The Shadow of the Wind. It is really an atmospheric and inspiring story, almost a horror novel. I also love Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco. I think good stories always inspire you.” Furthermore, apart from nature, darkness and books, she mentioned Before The Dawn and HIM among her favorite bands, as well as Entwine and To/Die/For, plus some Finnish rock bands as for example Kent, saying they have truly interesting bass lines and catchy melodies.

Inka and Mikko are definitely soulmates, and that combination of beautiful, whimsical melodies and dark, devilish growls certainly makes their music even more compelling. For instance, you can check some of their creations on YouTube, like the official videos for the songs Phoenix, Swans of the Frozen Waters, Raven, Everywhere, Aurora, and Seeker, and of course stream all of their creations on any streaming platform like Spotify. And if you think Inka or Mikko are worried about releasing music for free online, you’re absolutely wrong. “I think web singles are very important nowadays. There are so many new bands and albums, so it’s great that people can listen to music samples and singles for free,” commented our diva, but of course, if you want to show them your utmost support, you can always purchase their music from different physical or online stores, buy their merch, and always attend their live performances, helping the duo in keeping darkening the suns for many years to come.

“When all is said and done, when everything is lost, then there is only silence.” – Inka Ojala

Inka Ojala’s Official Facebook page
Dark The Suns’ Official Facebook page
Dark The Suns’ Official Instagram

Album Review – Altar Ov Asteria / Éna (2024)

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An uncanny duo aims at balancing visceral energy with enveloping atmosphere and dark melody, creating a sound both rooted in Black Metal tradition and expansive new avantgarde sounds in their debut album.

Established by two girls from the Dresden area, Satyra and Melpomene, both heavily involved in the rich local underground, German Black Metal duo Altar Ov Asteria aims at balancing visceral energy with enveloping atmosphere and dark melody, creating a sound both rooted in Black Metal tradition and expansive new avantgarde sounds, which is exactly what you’ll get in their debut opus Éna. Displaying a classic artwork by Last Light Designs, Éna (which most probably means a girl’s name of Irish origin with multiple meanings, including “ardent,” “little fire,” “kernel,” “grain,” and “peace”) offers a bold and austere atmosphere thoroughly crafted by the mysterious duo, already carving their names in the German Black Metal scene and leaving us eager for more of their visceral creations.

Their infernal riffs come in full force in the opening tune Arroganz, showcasing their aggression and passion for the extreme, or in other words, it’s a dark and venomous Black Metal chant that will surely send shivers down your spine as those girls show no mercy for our damned souls. Then a cryptic, psychological excerpt kicks off Fegefeuer, again bringing forward an amalgamation of Black Metal and atmospheric and doom elements, with their harsh, vile gnarls piercing our minds and hearts flawlessly. The duo managed to sound even more infuriated and harsh in Hesperus, with their caustic riffs and blast beats generating a massive wall of sounds in the name of Black Metal; followed by Kataklysm, the first single of the album, sounding and feeling absolutely brutal, grim and infernal, with Satyra and Melpomene blasting their sonic weapons with tons of anger and hatred, also offering elements of Melodic Black Metal in their sound to make things even more electrifying, flowing into the austere eight-minute closing tune Pilatus, where they go full Black Metal, bringing to our avid ears an overdose of crushing blast beats, scorching riffs and demonic roars and gnarls. I have no idea which one of the two girls plays drums in the album, but she sounds insanely heavy and precise until the very last second, not to mention the beauty of the song’s creepy, atmospheric passage.

“Imagine you would wake up in a world full of mysteries and realities woven into each other, like in a story book of the past centuries of Dante Alighieri or Homer. Two black-robed mysteries in gold-snake masks wake you up from the heavy dorm with blackened sirens crushing your ears, mesmerizing your mind to sense the allegories of humankind existence. You’ve got an invitation to a storybook of hellish Sodom, chapter by chapter illustrating thy and foreign dystopia”. These cryptic words are spot-on in depicting the music found in Éna, and you can put your hands on such a flammable album by purchasing it from the band’s own BandCamp, or from Dusktone’s BandCamp or webstore. You can also check what the duo is up to on Facebook and Instagram, and stream their music on Spotify, joining this mysterious, devilish duo in their quest for the underground to the sound of their caustic debut opus, an album that will certainly drag you to the underworld with them.

Best moments of the album: Fegefeuer and Pilatus.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Dusktone

Track listing
1. Arroganz 7:14
2. Fegefeuer 7:18
3. Hesperus 5:55
4. Kataklysm 5:10
5. Pilatus 8:00

Band members
Satyra – unknown
Melpomene – unknown

Guest musician
Athâerus – vocals on “Pilatus”

Album Review – Völva / Desires Profane (2024)

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Behold the new album by these three ruthless Swedish Black Metal ladies, a howling, hate-filled voice of rage, fueled by the fire and the fists that have subjugated womankind.

“Like the screams from a thousand vengeful souls from the witch’s bonfire.” – Vittra describes the sound of Völva

Forged in 2018 in in the simmering underground cauldrons of Punk and Black Metal of Malmö, Sweden, Black Metal/Crust outfit Völva will crush your damned soul to pieces in their new album, titled Desires Profane, a howling, hate-filled voice of rage, fueled by the fire and the fists that have subjugated womankind since the old ways were undone by the insidious Christian contamination of the world. Recorded by Oliver Dah in Studio Quaalude, mixed and mastered by Ulf Blomberg at Hoborec, and with a cryptic artwork by The Black Bird Sings, the first full-length album by vocalist and bassist Hedonosticia, guitarist Vittra and drummer Skuld seeks to explore Satanic Feminism, breaking away from conformity and exploring a higher purpose through free will, body and lust, all while being recommended for admirers of the caustic creations by Darkthrone, Urgehal, Wolfbastard and Taake, among many others.

Their evil, dirty and cryptic feast of Black Metal kicks off in full force with The Tower (check their performance playing this amazing song at Quaalude Sessions #15), with Hedonosticia already crushing our minds with her she-wolf gnarls, and it’s time to walk through the fires of hell together with those talented Sweds in Walk With Me, with Vittra showing no mercy for our souls, blasting infernal riffs nonstop. They then go full Black Metal in Expulsion of the Flesh, delivering endless animosity and darkness, with Hedonosticia’s harsh vocals sounding utterly piercing; followed by Inverted Cross, displaying a beautiful name for another explosion of Black Metal magic by the trio, again melting our faces with their unrelenting savagery, blast beats and hellish growls, before we face five minutes of sluggish, grim and visceral passages in Never Forgive, showcasing elements of Doom Metal added to their devilish core essence.

And they keep hammering our putrid souls with their blend of Black Metal and Crust in The Serpent, also delivering elements of Death Metal and Blackened Death Metal, led by the infernal roars by Hedonosticia and the massive beats by Skuld, whereas Perpetual Putrefaction sounds a bit generic compared to the rest of the album, albeit still presenting the band’s characteristic blasphemous, demonic sounds. Asmodeus is one of the most infuriated of all songs in Desires Profane where Vittra’s riffs are the epitome of evil, sounding devilishly metallic, while Hedonosticia continues to summon the creatures of the underworld with her she-demon gnarls; followed by Salvation, another evil onrush of Black Metal masterfully brought into being by the band, living up to the legacy of Swedish Black Metal, with Skuld once again kicking ass on drums. And last but not least, they offer us all a ruthless Black Metal extravaganza titled Vagabond, reminding me of some of the most wicked creations by the mighty Skeletonwitch.

In summary, those three Swedish ladies sound absolutely insane and on fire throughout their entire newborn beast, proving once again that women not only have their place in heavy music, but that they can also sound heavier, darker and more caustic than any man. Hence, you can check what they’re up to on Instagram, including their tour dates, stream their creations on any streaming service like Spotify, and grab a copy of their scathing new album from their own BandCamp, from the Grind To Death Records’ BandCamp, or from the Fiadh Productions’ BandCamp, helping them spread their infernal howl in the name of feminism and Black Metal to all four corners of our sexist and decaying world.

Best moments of the album: Expulsion of the Flesh, The Serpent and Asmodeus.

Worst moments of the album: Perpetual Putrefaction.

Released in 2024 Grind To Death Records/Fiadh Productions

Track listing
1. The Tower 4:10
2. Walk With Me 2:59
3. Expulsion of the Flesh 3:45
4. Inverted Cross 3:12
5. Never Forgive 5:19
6. The Serpent 3:42
7. Perpetual Putrefaction 2:30
8. Asmodeus 2:31
9. Salvation 4:38
10. Vagabond 2:28

Band members
Hedonosticia – vocals, bass
Vittra – guitars, backing vocals
Skuld – drums, backing vocals

Album Review – Dying Grotesque / Celestial (2024)

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Depicting the violent absurdity and the grim futility of human existence, the sophomore opus by this Ukrainian band will crush you like an insect in the name of Death Metal.

Depicting the violent absurdity and the grim futility of human existence, which appears to be completely insignificant comparing to the endless darkness of cosmic void and all the undiscovered mysteries it conceals, the pulverizing Celestial, the sophomore album by Ukrainian Death Metal band Dying Grotesque, is highly inspired by bands the likes of Bloodbath, The Black Dahlia Murder, Entombed, Dismember, Edge of Sanity, Gorefest, and Suffocation, among others, being the perfect follow-up to their 2020 debut Sunflower Tide. Mixed and mastered by Vadym ‘Silvan’ Tsymbaliuk at Intermodulation Studio, and with a sinister artwork by Yevhen ‘Gxreparty’ Konovalov (Shinagawalove), the new album by Vadym ‘Silvan’ Tsymbaliuk on vocals and guitars, Volodymyr ‘Liquidator’ Degtyarenko on guitars and bass, and Andriy ‘Nordwind’ Butok on drums perfectly represents the band’s trademark mixture of various genres and styles including Death, Doom and Thrash Metal, and even some synth and folk elements, proving how talented and dynamic the band can sound.

The metallic, vibrant sounds of their guitars and bass ignite the metal machine titled Nuclear Meadows, with Vadym roaring deeply like a demonic entity, exhaling pure Death Metal with a Slavic twist, whereas Satellites is an infuriated blend of Death Metal by the trio with Vadym and Volodymyr firing sheer aggression through their axes, supported by the massive beats by Andriy. And let’s keep banging our heads frantically in Burial Fields, where Andriy sounds even more demonic behind his drums, inviting us all to also head into the circle pit like true metalmaniacs. They definitely don’t care at all about trying to sound mellow or more commercial, as Purification is in-your-face, brutal Death Metal played from their blackened hearts, led by the cadaverous guttural by Vadym.

Point Of View brings forward another four minutes of insanity, fury and violence crafted by this talented Ukrainian horde, with the caustic riffs by Vadym and Volodymyr penetrating deep inside our skins in great Death Metal fashion, and investing in a more 90’s inspired sound the likes of Unleashed, the band offers a decent tune titled Pneuma, showcasing their love for the riff and all extreme things. Their second to last feast of violent and ruthless Death Metal is offered to us all in the form of Lilith, where Andriy keeps hammering his drums supported by the scorching riffage by Vadym and Volodymyr, while also showcasing their undeniable dexterity and hatred. There’s still time for one last visit to the circle pit to the sound of the venomous Mortality, where their 90’s Death Metal vein pulses stronger than ever spearheaded by the always crushing drums by Andriy.

After all is said and done, I bet you’ll go back to the start of Celestial and listen to it again and again, as those Ukrainian metallers know how to blast our ears with tons of rage with their harsh yet very melodious sounds. You can also start following them on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, listen to their crushing music on Spotify, and above all that, grab a copy of Celestial on BandCamp or by clicking HERE. Those Ukrainians will crush you like an insect in the name of Death Metal armed with their new album, and not only you’ll enjoy that, but you’ll also keep asking for more without a shadow of a doubt.

Best moments of the album: Nuclear Meadows, Purification and Lilith.

Worst moments of the album: Pneuma.

Released in 2024 Archivist Records

Track listing
1. Nuclear Meadows 5:34
2. Satellites 4:04
3. Burial Fields 5:11
4. Purification 3:53
5. Point Of View 3:58
6. Pneuma 5:22
7. Lilith 3:39
8. Mortality 4:36

Band members
Vadym ‘Silvan’ Tsymbaliuk – vocals, guitars
Volodymyr ‘Liquidator’ Degtyarenko – guitars, bass
Andriy ‘Nordwind’ Butok – drums

Guest musician
Oleksandr ‘Archon’ Kharechko – bass

Album Review – Ethereal / Downfall (2024)

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After a long hiatus, this Progressive Gothic/Doom Metal outfit from Portugal is back in action with their striking third full-length opus.

Formed in 1997 by vocalist Hugo Soares in Setúbal, a city and a municipality in Portugal, Progressive Gothic/Doom Metal outfit Ethereal returned to action in 2021 after a long hiatus with their original lineup comprised of the aforementioned Hugo Soares alongside Cristina Lopes on vocals, Marco Agostinho and Carlos Monteiro on the guitars (plus newcomer Pedro Arsenio also on the guitars), Mário Serrano on keyboards, Jorge Bentes on bass, and Miguel Ledo on drums, culminating now in 2024 with the release of their third full-length opus, titled Downfall. Recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Wilson Silva at WRecords Studio, produced by Ethereal and co-produced by Wilson Silva, and displaying a classic artwork by Augusto Peixoto of IrondoomDesign, Downfall represents the rebirth of one of the most important metal bands of the Portuguese scene, an album that is as detailed and heavy as it is dark and melancholic.

The striking opener Betrayal is very symphonic and melodic from the start, with the pounding drums by Miguel dictating the song’s pace before Hugo and Cristina make an amazing vocal duet, followed by The Allure of Dariah, another epic creation by Ethereal, this time investing in a more Symphonic Metal sonority with the guitars by Marco and Carlos matching perfectly with the whimsical keys by Mário. The band puts the pedal to the metal in the thrilling The Last Peaceful Journey, presenting elements from Gothic Rock from the 80’s in its core essence, once again showcasing a solid kitchen crafted by Jorge on bass and Miguel on drums; and it’s time for more of their classy blend of Symphonic and Gothic Metal in the form of Turmoil, with Hugo and Cristina stealing the spotlight with their striking vocals.

 Ethereal then venture through more melodic, charming lands in the soothing power ballad Our Dying Hope, gradually growing in epicness and heaviness to the harsh but passionate roars by Hugo, whereas the stylish, melodious riffs by Marco and Carlos set the tone in the also enfolding The Hour of Infinity, the epitome of Progressive Gothic and Doom Metal led by the mesmerizing vocals by Cristina. And lastly, the melancholic keys by Mário ignite the title-track. Downfall, being joined by Cristina’s gentle vocals and with all of the song’s guitar solos, background keys and classic beats adding extra layers to the overall result, putting a climatic ending to the album.

Eighteen years after their previous album, Ethereal are finally back to the world of heavy music with Downfall, and their new album sounds so strong it doesn’t feel they’ve been silent for so many years. Hence, don’t forget to give the band a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, to stream their music on Spotify, to subscribe to their YouTube channel, or to click HERE for all things Ethereal. I believe Ethereal are back in action for good after listening to Downfall, as it’s easy to feel how much passion, energy and focus they put on the making of this album, which means we won’t have to wait another two decades to get more original music from one of the torchbearers of gothic and doom in Portugal.

Best moments of the album: The Allure of Dariah, Turmoil and The Hour of Infinity.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Betrayal 4:36
2. The Allure of Dariah 6:37
3. The Last Peaceful Journey 5:53
4. Turmoil 7:09
5. Our Dying Hope 5:58
6. The Hour of Infinity 6:41
7. Downfall 8:58

Band members
Hugo Soares – vocals
Cristina Lopes – vocals
Marco Agostinho – guitars
Carlos Monteiro – guitars
Pedro Arsenio – guitars
Mário Serrano – keyboards
Jorge Bentes – bass
Miguel Ledo – 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