Tag Archives: doom metal

Album Review – Escarnium / Inexorable Entropy (2025)

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This Brazilian outfit continues to craft raw, visceral Death Metal fueled by anguish and nihilistic idea in their new album, cementing their name as one of the driving forces of the current scene.

Formed in 2008 in the city of Salvador, Brazil, Escarnium emerged in the local scene committed to crafting raw, visceral Death Metal fueled by anguish and nihilistic ideas. Now in 2025 the band currently formed of Victor Elian on vocals and guitars, Alex Hahn also on the guitars, Gabriel Dantas on bass, and Nestor Carrera on drums returns with their fourth full-length album Inexorable Entropy, featuring nine track of unrelenting, blast beats driven, infernal Death Metal. Recorded at Walzwerk Tonstudio (vocals), Escarnium Studio (guitars and bass), and RMS Studio (drums), mixed and mastered at Walzwerk Tonstudio, and displaying a suffocating, anguished artwork by Hugo Venancio and Nestor Carrera, Inexorable Entropy is highly recommended for fans of Dead Congregation, Cruciamentum, Krisiun, and Fossilization, among others, cementing the band’s name as one of the driving forces of the current Brazilian Death Metal scene.

In the intro Fentanyl, the somber keys by Nestor will darken the skies before the band pulverizes us all with Relentless Katabasis, a demented onrush of classic, infernal Death Metal where Nestor also sounds inhumane on drums. Cancerous Abyss is another ruthless display of heaviness and savagery, also carrying a beyond sinister name, where Victor’s deep guttural will send shivers down your spine while the same Victor and Alex extract sheer aggressiveness from their axes; whereas the title-track Inexorable Entropy reeks of the music by their countrymen Krisiun, which means it’s a visceral, undisputed tune tailored for fans of crushing Death Metal. And Gabriel and Nestor keep shaking the foundations of the earth in The Heritage, crafting a thunderous atmosphere perfect for Victor’s demonic growling.

Gabriel’s reverberating, metallic bass lines set the tone in Revulsion Of Carbon, offering more of the band’s spine crushing, no shenanigans Death Metal for our absolute delectation, and they show zero mercy for our souls and bodies in Through The Depths Of The 12th Gate, adding hints of Doom Metal to their core essence to make things even more obscure, and with Nestor delivering venomous yet intricate beats flawlessly. Before all is said and done, the cryptic interlude Ashen Path will warm us up for their final attack entitled Pyroscene’s Might, starting in a neck-breaking manner to the vicious riffs and solos by Victor and Alex, again blending their trademark Death Metal with doomed elements while Nestor hammers his drums like a demonic beast nonstop.

As aforementioned, Escarnium are undoubtedly one of the frontrunners of the current Death Metal scene in their homeland, and their brutal and visceral new album is a strong confirmation of their growing importance to the extreme music scene worldwide. You can get in touch with those Brazilian metallers via Facebook and Instagram for new, tour dates and more of their music, stream their ruthless discography on Spotify and purchase a copy of the austere, infernal Inexorable Entropy via mailorder or from BandCamp, or simply click HERE for all things Escarnium, proving you’re a true servant of old school Death Metal, therefore keeping the violence crafted by the band throughout the entire album flowing to all four corners of our dying world.

Best moments of the album: Relentless Katabasis, Inexorable Entropy and Revulsion Of Carbon.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Everlasting Spew Records

Track listing
1. Fentanyl 1:15
2. Relentless Katabasis 3:47
3. Cancerous Abyss 4:15
4. Inexorable Entropy 4:58
5. The Heritage 3:07
6. Revulsion Of Carbon 3:31
7. Through The Depths Of The 12th Gate 4:38
8. Ashen Path 1:45
9. Pyroscene’s Might 4:00

Band members
Victor Elian – vocals, guitars
Alex Hahn – guitars
Gabriel Dantas – bass
Nestor Carrera – drums, keyboards on “Fentanyl”

Album Review – Axiom Chaos / Primacy Arrival (2025)

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A new entity has crawled from the boiling swamps that lie in the deepest recesses of the Death Metal underworld, unleashing hell to the sound of their debut offering.

A new entity has crawled from the boiling swamps that lie in the deepest recesses of the Death Metal underworld, a force of terrifying alien power and chilling otherness that is about to bleed insidiously into our reality. I’m talking about Ohio/South Carolina, United States-based Technical/Brutal Death Metal outfit Axiom Chaos, a ruthless creature that’s unleashing upon humanity their debut offering, entitled Primacy Arrival. Bedecked in the visionary artwork of Morket Art (Engulfed, Inverted Ascension), the first full-length opus by the duo formed of Justin Vølus (Vølus, Fall Of Gnosis, Maggot Crown) on vocals and Ben Vanweelden (Venomous Echoes, Ceremonic Buryment) on the guitars, bass and drums will challenge, disturb and dominate, opening new pathways for Death Metal and, therefore, being recommended for fans of Immolation, Vastum, Blood Incantation and Disma, just to name a few.

Justin begins his ruthless vocal attack in The King, I Am, sending shivers down our spines while Ben crafts a caustic fusion of Death and Doom Metal not recommended for the lighthearted; whereas the title-track Primacy Arrival showcases an even more enraged duo, with the riffage by Ben exhaling heaviness and hatred. They keep spreading their sonic violence in The Gift of Recognition, a Brutal Death Metal feast led by Justin’s deep, inhumane roaring, and Justin’s vile shrieks will crawl under your skin in Extraterrestrial Necrotic Urge, while Ben smashes his drums in the name of Death Metal. Let’s then slam into the pit together with Axiom Chaos in Antediluvian Origin Unknown, a frantic, no shenanigans explosion of Death Metal led by the crushing riffs and drums by Ben; and there’s still time for more violence and hatred in the form of Wormhole Pathways of Conquest, with Justin bursting his lungs by roaring like a beast. Finally, Ben sounds once again striking and furious with his riffs and beats in Exodus Into Oblivion, putting a demolishing yet very melodic and vibrant ending to the album.

In Primacy Arrival, Axiom Chaos have fused the devastating impact of Death Metal with the untamable capricious might of pandemonium, invoking strange, compelling visions tailored for admirers of the genre. Hence, if you want to get in touch with such a talented and brutal American duo, you can find those guys on Facebook, stream their music on Spotify, and of course show them your utmost support by purchasing a copy of their incendiary, evil debut from Comatose Music’s BandCamp or webstore. The stairways to the new world are open and the drums of destruction are calling. The fires of war are alight to the sound of Primacy Arrival, a demented display of savagery that will surely please anyone in search for endless violence but with a huge slab of dexterity and melody.

Best moments of the album: The King, I Am, The Gift of Recognition and Exodus Into Oblivion.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. The King, I Am 4:24
2. Primacy Arrival 4:30
3. The Gift of Recognition 4:53
4. Extraterrestrial Necrotic Urge 3:54
5. Antediluvian Origin Unknown 4:25
6. Wormhole Pathways of Conquest 4:22
7. Exodus Into Oblivion 5:24

Band members
Justin Vølus – vocals
Ben Vanweelden – guitars, bass, drums

Album Review – Spiritwood / The Apparition of Horns (2025)

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This Finnish Black Metal entity arises once again with a sulfurous new album, a deep plunge into the experimental and avantgarde abyss, where every note is a lament and every silence, an omen.

From the deepness of the eternal night, Finnish Atmospheric Black Metal entity Spiritwood rises from the underworld with a brand new album titled The Apparition of Horns, the project’s sixth studio album delivering an aural ritual of isolation and decay enfolded by an avantgarde fusion of Atmospheric Black Metal with Doom Metal and occult mysticism, all masterfully crafted by the lone wolf known as Mr. Spiritwood. A deep plunge into the experimental and avantgarde abyss, where every note is a lament and every silence, an omen, the album is highly recommended for fans of Burzum, Blut Aus Nord, Shining, Dolorian, Leviathan, Gehenna, and Darkspace, among others, intertwining the coldness of nature with echoes of suffocating anguish.

Mr. Spiritwood wastes no time and fills every single space in the air with his vile gnarls and atmospheric sounds in Woodland Meditation, as raw and phantasmagorical as it can be, followed by the title-track The Apparition of Horns, a lecture in classic Black Metal with atmospheric and doom influences, with the dirty guitars by our lone wolf exhaling sulfur. Harbinger of Scourges sounds even more sluggish, grim and devilish, with the pounding drums by Mr. Spiritwood smashing our souls mercilessly, whereas in The Circle we’re treated to truly cryptic, haunting lyrics (“It accentuates the rotting bodies / And their pervasive aura of death / Eventually tightening the grip like the beast on it’s prey / Call to erase the memories of those already abandoned / Fell whispers that brought you and your kind here / Nothing but carrion under the veil of dusk / Succumbed and quiet empty souls / Haunting in oblivion”) amidst a Stygian wall of sounds. Such a demonic being speeds things up in Ascending Through the Contours of Emptiness, also vociferating with tons of anguish and darkness in his heart, flowing into the obscure and piercing closing tune Diagrams of the Dying Multiverse, with his visceral riffs and drums matching perfectly with his devilish gnarls.

A dreadful atmosphere where philosophy and wilderness collide in pure, unearthly darkness, the follow-up to the project’s 2023 album Plaguescape Dimensions definitely showcases a macabre evolution in the music by Mr. Spiritwood, who’s awaiting for you at his lair on Facebook and on Instagram, and of course you can join him in absolute darkness by purchasing his excellent new album by clicking HERE. Grim, obscure and eerie sounds set the tone throughout The Apparition of Horns, spreading sulfur across the earth and, consequently, inspiring Mr. Spiritwood to drag more and more unbelievers to the darkest side of music with his creations.

Best moments of the album: The Apparition of Horns, The Circle and Diagrams of the Dying Multiverse.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Loudriver Records

Track listing
1. Woodland Meditation 6:44
2. The Apparition of Horns 7:48
3. Harbinger of Scourges 7:02
4. The Circle 5:32
5. Ascending Through the Contours of Emptiness 8:35
6. Diagrams of the Dying Multiverse 9:24

Band members
Mr. Spiritwood – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Disfuneral / In Horror, Reborn (2025)

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This Archaic Death Metal entity from France will crush your souls armed with their sophomore album, delving deeper into themes of death, gore, and horror.

Formed in 2015 in Nancy, France, Disfuneral emerged from the remnants of the band Herpes, embracing a raw and unfiltered approach to Death Metal. Crafting a sound that pays homage to the early days of Death Metal while infusing their unique sense of humor and personality, calling their style as “Archaic Death Metal”, the band formed of Renaud Mann on vocals, Florian Brabant on the guitar, Clément Favre on bass and Nicolas Bauer on drums is set to unleash hell with their sophomore opus, entitled In Horror, Reborn. Recorded by the band itself (vocals, guitars, bass) and by Fabien Cruzille (drums), mixed and mastered by Robert Pehrsson at Studio Humbucker, and displaying a monstrous artwork by Jon Whiplash, the follow-up to their 2022 album Blood Red Tentacle delves deeper into themes of death, gore, and horror, encapsulating the band’s signature sound by blending ferocious riffs, guttural vocals and pounding rhythms, reflecting their strict dedication to the genre’s roots.

Simply hit play and a massive wall of sounds will crush you like an insect in Catacomb Dwellers, with Florian and Clément slashing their stringed axes in the name of classic Death Metal, and it’s pedal to the metal in the infuriated Tombs Vomiting the Dead, led by the hammering drums by Nicolas while Renaud barks and roars manically nonstop. The lancinating, visceral riffs by Florian will pierce your soul in Ripped from Within, a Death Metal beast that sounds and feels as dark and heavy as it can be, whereas Crypt of Demented lives up to its “charming” name, offering an overdose of heaviness and guttural vociferations, with the metallic bass by Clément walking hand in hand with Nicolas’ pounding drums.

Then adding a bit of Crust to their core Death Metal we have Extremity in Morbidity, a fast and furious tune spearheaded by Renaud’s demented roars, and investing in a much more somber, cadenced sound presenting hints of Doom Metal the band brings forward Dark Ages Ritual, with Clément’s bass sounding beyond heavy. Blessed by Decay is another slab of brutality and savagery by those French bastards, with Nicolas dictating the song’s frantic pace with his unstoppable beats, followed by the title-track In Horror, Reborn, presenting everything we love in Death Metal and more, sounding ruthless from start to finish and inviting us all for some wild mosh pit action. The band then closes the album on a high and demolishing note with Call from the Void, again showcasing Florian’s caustic riffage and Renaud’s deranged vocals.

In a nutshell, fans of bands the likes of Autopsy, Entombed, Necrot and Death Breath will certainly have an excellent time listening to In Horror, Reborn, and you can join those ruthless death metallers by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their music on Spotify, and above all that, by purchasing their demented new album from Bandcamp or from the Redefining Darkness’ webstore (in the United States or in the EU and rest of the world). Disfuneral are definitely among us to spread gore, violence and death armed with their unrelenting music, with In Horror, Reborn representing a solid step further in their career and, consequently, a very good reason for us all to dive into the pit to the sound of our beloved Death Metal.

Best moments of the album: Tombs Vomiting the Dead, Extremity in Morbidity and In Horror, Reborn.

Worst moments of the album: Dark Ages Ritual.

Released in 2025 Redefining Darkness Records

Track listing
1. Catacomb Dwellers 4:19
2. Tombs Vomiting the Dead 3:59
3. Ripped from Within 3:34
4. Crypt of Demented 4:52
5. Extremity in Morbidity 2:37
6. Dark Ages Ritual 3:50
7. Blessed by Decay 4:16
8. In Horror, Reborn 3:22
9. Call from the Void 4:30

Band members
Renaud Mann – vocals
Florian Brabant – guitar
Clément Favre – bass
Nicolas Bauer – drums

Album Review – Felgrave / Otherlike Darknesses (2025)

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This one-man project from Norway breaks the mould and offers three lengthy tracks that flow in an intuitive, undulating, almost whimsical manner, touching upon several styles and effortlessly shape shifting through them all.

After dropping its well-received debut album A Waning Light back in 2020, Viken, Norway-based entity Felgrave has crafted an ingenious album melding influences of Avantgarde Black, Death and Doom Metal in a way rarely done before, entitled Otherlike Darknesses, breaking the mould and offering three lengthy tracks that flow in an intuitive, undulating, almost whimsical manner, touching upon several styles and effortlessly shape shifting through them all. Mixed by the project’s mastermind, vocalist, guitarist, bassist and keyboardist M. L. Jupe, mastered by Brendan Sloan, featuring session drummer Robin Stone (Evilyn, Norse), and displaying another beautiful artwork by Adam Burke of Nightjar Illustration, Otherlike Darknesses is a multi-faceted opus and yet has a fairly cohesive sound with exceptional song writing, always engaging while also being unpredictable.

M. L. Jupe ignites his blackened machine armed with his scorching riffs and a menacing atmosphere in Winds Batter My Keep, sounding disturbing, avantgarde and addictive all at once, with the puissant drums by Robin adding an extra dosage of heaviness to the music, resulting in a sonic creature arising from the underworld ready to consume us all. After such a bludgeoning beast we face Pale Flowers Under an Empty Sky, the “shortest” song of the album (which still surpasses the 12-minute mark), beginning in a sinister manner until all morphs into an experimental, dissonant display of Black and Death Metal led by M. L. Jupe’s visceral growls and infernal riffage, also showcasing ethereal, soothing passages; building an instant bridge with the colossal title-track Otherlike Darknesses, offering us all mere mortals 18 minutes of grandiose Avantgarde Black and Death Metal. Futhermore, M. L. Jupe and Robin are on fire during the entire song, demolishing our senses and piercing our minds with their wicked vociferations, incendiary riffs and pulverizing drums, while also bringing forward so many breaks, variations and cryptic moments it feels like countless songs in one in the end.

“I’m super glad to have found a label so excited to release Otherlike Darknesses, an album of experimental, avantgarde extreme metal with many diverse influences, namely 20th century classical music, 70s symphonic prog rock, and the weirder side of 90s black and death metal. The music herein is a meticulously crafted dark yet colourful tapestry that goes far beyond anything I’ve done before, and will reward diligent and attentive enjoyers of unique extreme metal for countless repeats,” commented M. L. Jupe about his newborn spawn and his partnership with the always amazing Transcending Obscurity Records, and you can put your damned hands on such a unique album of extreme music by purchasing it from the label’s Bandcamp, main store, Europe store, or US store, keeping in mind it comes as a hand-numbered eight-panel digipak with full color printing and a metallic effect throughout, in addition to gloss raised UV lamination done on parts of the artwork, a download code and transparent logo stickers. Don’t forget to also see what M. L. Jupe and his Felgrave are up to on Facebook while listening to his new album, embarking on a multi-layered, classy and embracing journey across an array of music styles, all masterfully brought into being by a Norwegian lone wolf that definitely knowns how to turn music into a work of art.

Best moments of the album: Otherlike Darknesses.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Winds Batter My Keep 18:09
2. Pale Flowers Under an Empty Sky 12:29
3. Otherlike Darknesses 18:00

Band members
M. L. Jupe – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, programming

Guest musicians
Robin Stone – drums (session)

Album Review – Behölder / In The Temple Of The Tyrant (2025)

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This American horde will attack our senses with their debut opus, a true love letter to Epic Doom Metal inspired by classic Dungeons & Dragons.

Hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States, Behölder are an Epic Doom/Dark/Power Metal band inspired by classic Dungeons & Dragons, formed in late 2021 by guitarist Carlos Alvarez. Produced by the same Carlos Alvarez, mixed and mastered by Ronnie Björnström at Björnström Ljud & Produktion, and displaying a stunning artwork by Zsofia Dankova, their debut opus, titled In The Temple Of The Tyrant, features eight tracks of monstrous proportions, a true love letter to Epic Doom Metal weaving cautionary tales from the more grim, foreboding realms of fantasy against a backdrop of colossal riffs with elegant yet powerful melodies, all carefully crafted by vocalist John Yelland, guitarists Carlos Alvarez and Matt Hodsdon, bassist Michael Sanchez, and drummer Andrew Julkowski.

A Pale Blood Sky begins in a strong doomed vibe thanks to the heavy riffs by Carlos and Matt, supported by the always thunderous bass by Michael, and let’s all headbang like beasts to the epic vocals by John because those are awesome. Then their melodious, penetrating guitar lines set the tone in Dungeon Crawl, another feast of Epic and Doom Metal with a thrilling galloping pace; and it’s time for an even heavier tune titled Into the Underdark, with the pounding drums by Andrew walking hand in hand with the deep vocals by John, not to mention how powerful the bass by Michael sounds. After that we face Eyes of the Deep (featuring guest vocalist Tomi Joutsen of Amorphis), which reminds me of some of the darkest creations by Black Sabbath with Dio, in special from when they were called Heaven & Hell, with the entire band sounding tight, epic and fierce until the very last second.

The band then fires a more introspective composition entitled For Those Who Fell, offering seven minutes of dark, sluggish passages rooted in classic Doom Metal, or in other words, it’s a beautiful dark ballad by the band. Then investing in a primeval, tribalistic sound we have Draconian (Slave or Master), as if it was part of a somber, obscure ritual, with the riffage by Carlos and Matt penetrating deep inside our skin in great fashion, followed by Summoned & Bound, which lacks the same energy and punch from the previous songs. John still delivers his share of epicness through his vocals, though. And lastly we’re treated to I Magus, an amazing blast of Epic Doom Metal led by the thunderous vocals by John while his bandmates not only craft a powerful sound, but their backing vocals are also spot-on, putting a phenomenal and obviously epic ending to the album.

As the band itself likes to say, their debut album offers us all avid listeners “magic, mayhem and riffs heavier than a storm giant’s ass,” being therefore highly recommended for fans of Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus, Sorcerer, and Memento Mori, among others. Hence, you can join the band in their magic metal quest by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, and of course by purchasing a copy of In The Temple Of The Tyrant from the Black Lion Records’ BandCamp or webstore, from Indiemerchstore, from Season of Mist, or simply by clicking HERE or HERE. In the end, Behölder are definitely going to make a lot of noise armed with their first ever album, adding an extra dosage of sheer doom to the already heavy and thunderous world of Dungeons & Dragons.

Best moments of the album: A Pale Blood Sky, Draconian (Slave or Master) and I Magus.

Worst moments of the album: Summoned & Bound.

Released in 2025 Black Lion Records

Track listing
1. A Pale Blood Sky 6:34
2. Dungeon Crawl 5:39
3. Into the Underdark 5:20
4. Eyes of the Deep 6:25
5. For Those Who Fell 6:58
6. Draconian (Slave or Master) 5:52
7. Summoned & Bound 5:34
8. I Magus 6:44

Band members
John Yelland – lead vocals
Carlos Alvarez – guitars, backing vocals
Matt Hodsdon – guitars, backing vocals
Michael Sanchez – bass, backing vocals
Andrew Julkowski – drums, backing vocals

Guest musician
Tomi Joutsen – vocals on “Eyes of the Deep”

Album Review – Wurmian / Immemorial Shrine (2025)

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Enter the shrine of first-class Melodic Death and Doom Metal crafted by this one-man project from France, and let the echoes from his debut album guide you on a brooding and immersive journey through sorrow, introspection, and existential desolation.

Founded in 2024 by Antoine Scholtès, the mastermind behind Atmospheric Black Metal project Inherits The Void, Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France-based act Wurmian emerges with a mission to resurrect the essence of classic Melodic Death and Doom Metal. Drawing inspiration from the melancholic and introspective tones of bands like October Tide, Horrified, and Edge of Sanity, the project’s debut offering, titled Immemorial Shrine, embraces the duality of soaring melodies and crushing heaviness. Mastered by Simon Da Silva at The Empty Hall Studio, and displaying a classic logo by Dipayandas Art and a stunning, doomed artwork by Silvana Massa, Immemorial Shrine is a somber odyssey into solitude and decay, a brooding and immersive journey through sorrow, introspection, and existential desolation, turning it into a compelling listen for fans of both classic and modern death and doom.

Antoine begins embellishing the airwaves with his melodious guitar lines in Aeon Afterglows, reminding me of both old school and contemporary Paradise Lost with a harsher twist; whereas in the title-track Immemorial Shrine he showcases all his passion for Black and Death Metal without forgetting to add a good share of Doom and Gothic Metal to his sound, and the final result is simply beautiful. His Melodic Doom Metal attack goes on in Haven, with his guttural vocals and pounding drums being perfect for some sick headbanging, and our lone wolf speeds things up in Spires of Sorrow, offering a rawer, more direct Death Metal attack led by his classic beats and fills. Then back to a more pensive, melancholic sonority, Antoine roars with tons of anguish in Yearning Unseen, also delivering piercing, sharp riffs, followed by Sleeping Giants, another stunning composition by this multi-talented French musician that overflows Atmospheric Black and Death Metal for our total delight. And the closing song of the album, The Everflowing Stream, is another lecture in Doom Metal, with Antoine enhancing the acidity of his riffs and the depth of his Stygian roars for our vulgar delectation.

In the end, prepare to embark on a melancholic odyssey that echoes the spirit of the 90’s Death and Doom Metal while forging a path into the present in Immemorial Shrine, already available in full on YouTube and on Spotify. Hence, don’t forget to follow the project on Facebook and on Instagram for news, and maybe some live performances in the future in case Antoine assembles a live band for his shows, and above all, to purchase  Immemorial Shrine from  Wurmian’s own BandCamp or from the Pest Records’ BandCamp, or simply by clicking HERE. After all is said and done, simply enter the shrine of first-class Melodic Death and Doom Metal crafted by Wurmian. Let the echoes guide you.

Best moments of the album: Immemorial Shrine, Haven and Sleeping Giants.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Pest Records

Track listing
1. Aeon Afterglows 4:55
2. Immemorial Shrine 4:54
3. Haven 6:33
4. Spires of Sorrow 4:36
5. Yearning Unseen 5:27
6. Sleeping Giants 5:21
7. The Everflowing Stream 7:19

Band members
Antoine Scholtès – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Vermilia / Karsikko (2025)

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Let your soul wander through the forest to the sound of the stunning third full-length offering by this one-woman Atmospheric and Pagan Black Metal entity from Finland.

In the Finnic religion, a “karsikko” was a set of markings made on a tree somewhere between a deceased person’s home and the burial site, which was believed to prevent the individual’s spirit from coming back. In heavy music, Karsikko is the stunning third full-length offering by one-woman Atmospheric Pagan/Black Metal entity Vermilia, following up on her 2018 critically acclaimed debut Kätkyt and her also amazing 2022 opus Ruska. Since 2017, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Vermilia has been playing a beautiful hybrid of Epic Pagan Metal and sweet, raw and melancholic vocal harmonies with lyrics in her native language, and in Karsikko she has outdone herself with her strongest effort to date, a charming yet visceral album that lives up to the legacy of extreme music while at the same time it pays homage to her beautiful culture and roots.

The charming piano by Vermilia kicks off the dancing Pagan Black Metal title-track Karsikko, with her powerful, penetrating vocals matching perfectly with the song’s stunning wall of sounds. Vakat is the name of a traditional Finnish pagan festival, and that’s exactly what we get from Vermilia in this excellent song, perfect for dancing around the fire and raising our horns high in the sky. Then we have Kivutar, a Finnish goddess of pain and suffering whose name translates to “Lady of Pain”; musically speaking, Vermilia once again delivers an overdose of blast beats, scorching Black Metal riffs, and her fusion of clean vocals and harsh roars. And her classic drums and whimsical keys set the tone in Suruhymni, or “an anthem of mourning” from Finnish, embracing us in pitch black darkness in the middle of the forests of Finland.

Then the atmospheric, enfolding sounds crafted by Vermilia will penetrate deep inside your soul in Koti, or “home”, offering us all a well-balanced fusion of Black and Pagan Metal while again presenting her hypnotizing vocalizations; and in Veresi, or “your blood”, the name of the song says it all, demanding a heavier, more visceral sonority, and our lone she-wolf brings it while also sounding haunting thanks to her Doom Metal-inspired riffs and beats, presenting a fantastic rhythm, crisp instrumental and spot-on vocal lines. In Talven Jälkeen, or “after the winter”, we’re treated to more of her hybrid of harsh sounds and whimsical, embracing passages, with her work on the guitars and drums sounding utterly vibrant. Lastly, Vermilia ends the album on a high note with the dark and heavy Kansojen Kaipuu, or “the longing of nations”, where she gnarls like a creature of the forest for our total delight amidst sounds of pure Atmospheric Black Metal magic.

You can experience Karsikko in all of its glory on YouTube, on Spotify, or on any other streaming service, but of course in order to support the beyond talented Vermilia you can purchase her newborn beast from her own BandCamp or webstore, or by clicking HERE. Also, don’t forget to join her pagan festivities by following her on Facebook and on Instagram (including her unique, mesmerizing live performances), and by subscribing to her official YouTube channel, letting her fascinating music penetrate deep inside your mind, as your soul wanders freely through the darkly peaceful forests of her homeland. Karsikko is one of those albums that gradually takes over your spirit with each and every listen, a precious gem of the underground that will surely feature among the best albums of the year, inspiring Vermilia to continue her amazing path of Atmospheric and Pagan Black Metal for many years to come, as her connection with her pagan roots get stronger and stronger with each album released.

Best moments of the album: Karsikko, Suruhymni, Veresi and Kansojen Kaipuu.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Karsikko 4:44
2. Vakat 7:07
3. Kivutar 4:32
4. Suruhymni 5:08
5. Koti 3:28
6. Veresi 6:39
7. Talven Jälkeen 3:46
8. Kansojen Kaipuu 6:01

Band members
Vermilia – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Grey Mountain / Grey Mountain (2025)

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A transatlantic metal project featuring members of several renowned acts strikes with their debut offering, a crushing fusion of Heavy, Death and Doom Metal with Post-Metal and other discordant influences.

A transatlantic metal project featuring members of Monsterworks, Bull Elephant, Construct of Lethe, and Black Harvest, Grey Mountain are unleashing upon us their self-titled debut opus, offering our avid ears a crushing fusion of styles from Heavy, Death and Doom Metal to Post-Metal and other discordant influences. Recorded by the band itself, mixed by vocalist and guitarist Jon Higgs (Thūn, Moose Cult), mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound, and displaying a stylish artwork by guitarist and bassist Kishor Haulenbeek (Black Harvest, Construct of Lethe, In Human Form), the debut album by the aforementioned Jon and Kishor, alongside drummer James Garnett (Monsterworks), will hit you right in the jugular without a single drop of mercy, proving those three talented musicians are not fooling around with their new partnership.

The minimalist guitar lines by Jon and Kishor and the sluggish beats by James set the tone in Grey Mountain, offering a sharp fusion of Doom and Post-Black Metal, or in other words, the music couldn’t have represented better the name of the song (and also of the band). Perpetual Imbalance might be shorter in duration, but it’s as harsh and visceral as the opening track, with James hammering his drums in the name of modern-day Sludge Metal; followed by A Universal Evil, another melodic yet grim creation by the trio, offering a dynamic guitar duel between Jon and Kishor, being therefore perfect for breaking your neck headbanging. Then presenting a pure Post-Metal sonority we have Hermitage, with Jon’s anguished roars sounding beautifully haunting; whereas Many Shades, A Storm starts in a more introspective, serene manner before evolving into a not-so-exciting Post-Metal feast led by James’ classic beats. It’s time for the trio to crush their instruments in Decline and Fall, with Jon roaring like a beast amidst a modern-day fusion of Post-Metal with Doom and Sludge Metal, and the band fires one last breath of heavy and melodic sounds in the form of Living Mythology, with their riffs and solos sounding caustic and piercing until the very end.

Having already a second album planned in a not-so-distant future, Grey Mountain deliver an overdose of heaviness in their self-titled debut offering, which you can purchase from Ampwall or from BandCamp. Also ,although the band itself doesn’t have any official social media yet, you can get more details about the whole project as well as other projects from Jon’s Instagram, and who knows, maybe sooner than we can say “metal” we’ll see those guys hitting the stage together as Grey Mountain. Based on the quality of the music found in their debut, I think we all agree we need that to happen.

Best moments of the album: Grey Mountain, Hermitage and Living Mythology.

Worst moments of the album: Many Shades, A Storm.

Released in 2025 Eat Lead and Die Music

Track listing
1. Grey Mountain 6:39
2. Perpetual Imbalance 3:39
3. A Universal Evil 7:27
4. Hermitage 6:35
5. Many Shades, A Storm 4:30
6. Decline and Fall 3:52
7. Living Mythology 5:48

Band members
Jon Higgs – guitars, vocals
Kishor Haulenbeek – guitar, bass, vocals
James Garnett – drums

Album Review – Usquam / Ex Nihilo (2025)

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One of the most promising hordes hailing from France attacks with a beyond stunning fusion of Black, Death, Doom and Post-Metal, exploring the depths of the human soul.

Since their inception back in 2018, Paris, France-based horde Usquam (also stylized in capital letters as USQUAM, a Latin adverb that means “anywhere” or “in any place”) has been shaping their own version of “blackened metal music” by combining Black, Death, Doom and Post-Metal, always with endless violence and melancholy. Now in 2025 the band formed of newcomer Jessy “Christ” Vignolle on vocals alongside guitarists Etienne “Eithenn” Gonin and Jonathan “Draugr”, and bassist Alain “Alwan” Nicolle has just unleashed upon us their first full-length opus, entitled Ex Nihilo, following up on their 2021 EP Reborn. Produced, mixed and mastered by Fred Gervais at Studio Henosis, the album showcases a central concept related to the ”Primordial Tradition”, a fundamental human experience that some believe contains all truths of all religions. Add to that the fact their lyrics explore the depths of the human soul in French, English and Latin, and there you have a bold, dense, detailed and captivating album of extreme music that’s at the same time meaningful and haunting.

Altar Ego sounds utterly atmospheric and enfolding from the very first second, with the band’s Post-Black Metal vein pulsing majestically, led by the deep, anguished roars by Jessy; whereas Etienne and Jonathan sound inhumane armed with their caustic riffs in Axis Mundi, offering us all a crushing, scorching fusion of Black and Death Metal. Then we’re treated to Athanor with its over six minutes of absolute darkness, sending shivers down our spines in the best Blackened Death Metal way possible while Alain pounds his bass with endless fury and dexterity; and a sinister, ritualistic intro explodes into an overdose of violence and obscurity led by the demented harsh screams by Jessy in Ego Sum (Qui Sum), while Alain once again destroys his bass, all spiced up by a striking solo by Etienne. And investing in a more lugubrious Doom Metal sonority we have Arcana Nox, with the cryptic sounds of Post-Black Metal adding a welcome extra dosage of heaviness to the overall result.

Their venomous sounds keep permeating the air in Egocide, with its more symphonic background enhancing its epicness, all while Jessy continue to growl like a true she-demon, followed by the thunderous The Mast, the most complex, intricate and multi-layered of all songs, a lecture in Blackened Death, Doom and Post-Metal with a melancholic, atmospheric start morphing into a pulverizing attack by the band. Moreover, whoever played drums in this album is indeed a headbanging beast. There’s still time for another melodic yet vile creation by Usquam titled Symbol, with the metallic, in-your-face bass lines by Alain hitting our cranial skulls mercilessly, and closing the album it’s time for a full Post-Black Metal aria entitled Persévérance, a majestic composition where Jessy sounds so anguished and desperate on vocals it’s beautiful and disturbing at the same time.

A melodic, symphonic and modern feast of Black Metal embraced by careful arrangements in which spirituality and philosophy are expressed, Ex Nihilo will certainly appeal to fans of bands the likes of Naglfar, Dimmu Borgir, Dark Funeral, and Gaerea, among many others, positioning Usquam as a force to be reckoned with in the underworld of extreme music. You can enjoy Ex Nihilo in all of its glory on YouTube and on Spotify, as well as on other streaming platforms, get to know more about such a unique band of the French scene by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and of course purchase a copy of this precious gem of heavy music from the Source Atone Records’ webstore as a digipak CD + booklet or as a very special digipak CD + booklet + shirt combo (or simply click HERE for all things Usquam). “Ex nihilo” is a Latin phrase meaning “out of nothing”, referring to “creatio ex nihilo”, the belief that matter is not eternal, but had to be divinely created; having said that, what are you waiting for to join one of the most promising names of the metal scene worldwide in their metallic studies of the human soul?

Best moments of the album: Axis Mundi, Ego Sum (Qui Sum), The Mast and Persévérance.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Source Atone Records

Track listing
1. Altar Ego 5:07
2. Axis Mundi 4:32
3. Athanor 6:06
4. Ego Sum (Qui Sum) 3:28
5. Arcana Nox 4:19
6. Egocide 3:04
7. The Mast 5:31
8. Symbol 4:20
9. Persévérance 5:38

Band members
Jessy “Christ” Vignolle – vocals
Etienne “Eithenn” Gonin – lead guitars
Jonathan “Draugr” – guitars
Alain “Alwan” Nicolle – bass