Tag Archives: nox fragor art

Album Review – Vøidwomb / Spiritual Apotheosis (2024)

Posted on by
Reply

Deliver your soul to this nine-track immersive Black Metal experience that will guide you through the inherent utter darkness of human condition and the cathartic search for enlightenment.

“SIC ITUR AD ASTRA”

On the shores of Portugal, deep in the north of the country, a creature lurks in the shadow. Forged in the fires of Barroselas, Viana do Castelo in 2019, Vøidwomb are a Black Metal quintet who’s back to the light after three years in the shades with their first full-length opus, titled Spiritual Apotheosis. Mixed and mastered by Diogo Santana at Noise Portrait Studios, with a cover painting by prolific painter Daniel Hermosilla of Nox Fragor Art, the follow-up to their debut EP Altars of Cosmic Devotion is a record about understanding darkness and sacrificing self to reach transcendence, a nine-track immersive Black Metal experience that will guide you through the inherent utter darkness of human condition and the cathartic search for enlightenment, all carefully brought into being by vocalist M.S.Vøid, guitarists Lord and Fractal, bassist F.S.Void, and drummer Noctvs.

Ominous and grim from the very first second, the extended intro Exordium will darken the skies before the band begins their vile black mass in Metempsychosis, featuring guest vocals by Diogo Santana (Fustilarian, Necrobode, Raw Decimating Brutality), offering us all five minutes of absolute darkness and hatred spearheaded by the Black Metal beats by Noctvs, while M.S.Vøid distills his venomous gnarls nonstop together with Diogo. Black Putrescence feels even more primeval and demonic than the opening track, with the guitars by Lord and Fractal piercing our damned souls mercilessly; whereas Liberation keeps the sulfur flowing majestically in the album, with the vociferations by M.S.Vøid matching perfectly with the massive, Stygian sounds blasted by his infernal bandmates, flowing like an uncontrolled, vile beast from the underworld until the very end.

The band then offers a cryptic (and way too long) interlude simply titled Interludium, once again blackening our minds and souls before those Portuguese metallers attack our senses with Vesselvoid, bringing forward seven minutes of sheer despair and void, with M.S.Vøid roaring from the depths of the underworld while F.S.Void and Noctvs sound thunderous with their respective bass and drums, resulting in a lecture in Black and Death Metal by the band. Then the atmosphere switches from the epicness of longer tunes to the violence of a short and devastating one titled Azoth, where the entire band sounds evil and tight during its less than three minutes of savagery, with of course Noctvs sounding beyond brutal on drums. Lastly, they blast our ears with another six-minute feast of Black and Death Metal entitled Coagulation, with their strident riffs and rumbling bass generating a menacing atmosphere perfect for M.S.Vøid’s eerie growls and gnarls, morphing into the outro Epilogus, presenting three minutes of desolate passages, grim sounds and tones, and an absolute sense of nothingness.

As mentioned, Vøidwomb will guide you through pitch black darkness in their excellent new album, and you can get to know more about such promising name of the current Portuguese scene by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming more of their eerie creations on Spotify or on any other streaming service, and above all that, by purchasing Spiritual Apotheosis from the Avantgarde Music’s BandCamp page, from Sound Cave, or by clicking HERE. In other words, let the Black Metal darkly crafted by Vøidwomb in Spiritual Apotheosis reach deep inside your rotten soul, joining them in darkness for all eternity. And so we go to the stars.

Best moments of the album: Metempsychosis, Vesselvoid and Azoth.

Worst moments of the album: Interludium.

Released in 2024 Avantgarde Music

Track listing
1. Exordium (Intro) 3:53
2. Metempsychosis 5:09
3. Black Putrescence 4:36
4. Liberation 4:51
5. Interludium 3:29
6. Vesselvoid 7:04
7. Azoth 2:41
8. Coagulation 6:19
9. Epilogus (Outro) 3:02

Band members
M.S.Vøid – vocals
Lord – guitars
Fractal – guitars
F.S.Void – bass, backing vocals
Noctvs – drums

Guest musician
Diogo Santana – vocals on “Metempsychosis”

Album Review – Imperial Demonic / Beneath the Crimson Eclipse EP (2023)

Posted on by
2

As above, so below, this Northern Ireland-based Melodic Black Metal horde will see you in hell armed with their breathtaking debut effort.

Having first emerged back in 2021 in Belfast, Northern Ireland as a solo project by drummer Cameron Åhslund-Glass (Celtachor, Darkest Era, Overoth), paying homage to the more polished Black Metal sound of the late 90’s and early 2000’s, but currently comprised of Cameron together with Andy Heathen (Celtachor, Overoth) on vocals, Daniel Dempster (Overoth) and Kacper Lewandowski on the guitars, and Gareth Murdock (Alestorm) on bass, the pulverizing Melodic Black Metal horde Imperial Demonic has just unleashed upon humanity their debut effort, a fantastic EP titled Beneath the Crimson Eclipse, bringing the fire and brimstone back to modern Black Metal. Recorded at Third Level Audio, engineered and produced by James Reeve and the band’s own Kacper Lewandowski, and displaying a sinister artwork by Romanian artist Luciana Nedelea (with logo by Nox Fragor Art and album cover arrangements by Anaïs Mulgrew), Beneath the Crimson Eclipse brings forward a fusion of fury and triumph, aggression and melody, with the band pursuing a heavier, more aggressive territory with relentless blast beats, melodic hooks and visceral lyrics.

As a creature crawling from the underworld, the band begins their caustic sonic attack with The Furnace, an imposing Black Metal aria where Andy roars majestically accompanied by the infernal drums by Cameron, kicking off the EP on a beyond sulfurous note; whereas Daniel and Kacper extract strident, piercing Black Metal riffs form their axes in Ways Of The Secular Flesh, offering us all nonstop action while Gareth hammers his bass like a maniac. Then once again embellishing the airwaves with their pulverizing riffs, bass lines and blast beats, the band brings forward The Path Of Night, living up to the legacy of contemporary Melodic Black Metal while Andy sounds inhumane on vocals as usual; and keeping the level of sulfur and obscurity as high as possible, Andy screams in anger in Dawn Of The Infernal Age, supported by another infernal performance by Cameron on drums in a lecture in Melodic Black Metal. Lastly, closing such fantastic and intense EP we have Beneath The Crimson Eclipse, offering us all more of the band’s austere sounds with Gareth and Cameron making sure the atmosphere remains as sulfurous as possible, while Daniel and Kacper fire their undisputed Black Metal riffs nonstop for our total delight.

This precious gem of darkness is available for a full and detailed listen on YouTube and on Spotify, but you can certainly show your utmost support to the guys from Imperial Demonic by clicking HERE and purchasing your favorite version of Beneath the Crimson Eclipse. Don’t forget to also start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and more of their Stygian music, showing all your appreciation for their wicked creations. In the thrilling Beneath the Crimson Eclipse, Imperial Demonic delivered exactly what they said they would, sounding heavily rooted in that scorching Black Metal sound from the 90’s and 2000’s without sounding repetitive or outdated, and I can’t wait to see what’s next in the career of Cameron and his horde.

Best moments of the album: The Path Of Night and Dawn Of The Infernal Age.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Black Lion Records

Track listing
1. The Furnace 3:40
2. Ways Of The Secular Flesh 4:44
3. The Path Of Night 7:20
4. Dawn Of The Infernal Age 4:49
5. Beneath The Crimson Eclipse 6:02

Band members
Andy Heathen – vocals
Daniel Dempster – lead guitars
Kacper Lewandowski – rhythm and additional guitars
Gareth Murdock – bass
Cameron Åhslund-Glass – drums

Album Review – Faustian Spirit / Blessed by the Wings of Eternity (2022)

Posted on by
Reply

A sinister horde from Chile arises from the pits of hell with their debut full-length opus, offering us all eight dismal and imperishable tracks of determined darkness and majestic, sinister Black Metal purity.

From the darkest depths of the subconscious, stained by the blood of the dragons from the other side, Valparaíso, Chile-based Black Metal entity Faustian Spirit was born to see the darkness in 2019 beyond the blackened sun of the anti-cosmic void. Comprised of Magister Nihilifer Vendetta 218 on vocals and bass, N. Psicopompos on the guitars (or on the “anticosmic vibrations” as the band itself likes to say), and Knoʯmenon on drums, Faustian Spirit arise from the underworld in 2022 with their first full-length opus, entitled Blessed by the Wings of Eternity, following up on the absolute darkness of their 2020 self-titled debut demo. Recorded and mixed at Dead Signal, in Chile, and displaying a sinister logo and Sol Intempesta sigil by Nox Fragor Art and a darkly stunning cover artwork and photo frame sigils by Beatriz Wolf Artworks, Blessed by the Wings of Eternity presents eight dismal and imperishable tracks of determined darkness and majestic, sinister Black Metal purity not recommended for the lighthearted.

The opening tune Nullification is brutal, raw and blasphemous form the very first second, with the obscure gnarls by Magister Nihilifer Vendetta 218 crawling deep inside your skin while the anticosmic vibrations blasted by N. Psicopompos are an ode to classic Black Metal. Then Knoʯmenon hammers his drums with endless hatred in his heart in Mysterivm Veritas Silentivm, something in the lines of “the mystery of the truth of silence”, another demolishing Black Metal onrush that will please all fans of the darkest side of music with Magister Nihilifer Vendetta 218 sounding once again inhumane on vocals for our total delight; and the acoustic and extremely sinister guitar lines by N. Psicopompos in the interlude The Faustian Archetype set the stage for Faustian Spirit to crush our damned souls in Sanguinem Drakonis (or “dragon’s blood”), where the trio keeps slamming their sonic weapons mercilessly in the name of pure evil. Furthermore, Magister Nihilifer Vendetta 218 is not only a talented vocalist, but his low-tuned, demonic bass lines also bring an extra touch of obscurity to the overall result.

If you think you’ll have a moment of peace you’re absolutely wrong, because infernal riffs, rumbling bass jabs and nonstop blast beast will decimate your senses in the fast and furious title-track Blessed by the Wings of Eternity, a solid display of Scandinavian Black Metal made in Chile for admirers of the genre; followed by Die Minnensänger, which translates as “the minstrels”, and that’s what you’ll get from Faustian Spirit with three minutes of acoustic guitars, somber passages and sheer melancholy, warming up our senses for the Stygian and grim Sol Intempesta, their most infernal and detailed creation exhaling old school Black Metal spearheaded by the demonic gnarls by Magister Nihilifer Vendetta 218, while N. Psicopompos continues to invade our minds with his undisputed anticosmic vibrations, flowing into the outro Gazers of Tehiru, which despite taking away a tiny bit of all the darkness and energy of the album, it ends up working fine for what it is.

You can enjoy all the blasphemy and obscurity blasted by Faustian Spirit in Blessed by the Wings of Eternity by streaming the album in its entirety on YouTube, but in order to show your utmost support to the most Stygian corners of the underground you should purchase a copy of the album from the band’s own BandCamp page, from the Inferna Profundus Records’ BandCamp page or webstore, as well as from several other retailers such as Sound Cave, Oratorivm, iMusic and Discogs. South American Black Metal never disappoints, and Faustian Spirit make sure the fires of Chilean metal keep burning bright with Blessed by the Wings of Eternity, inviting us all to destroy and transcend the material castle of our ego, conquer our will, and open ourselves to chaos.

Best moments of the album: Mysterivm Veritas Silentivm, Sanguinem Drakonis and Sol Intempesta.

Worst moments of the album: Gazers of Tehiru.

Released in 2022 Inferna Profundus Records

Track listing
1. Nullification 5:03
2. Mysterivm Veritas Silentivm 4:56
3. The Faustian Archetype 2:19
4. Sanguinem Drakonis 8:39
5. Blessed by the Wings of Eternity 3:34
6. Die Minnensänger 3:18
7. Sol Intempesta 6:52
8. Gazers of Tehiru 2:15

Band members
Magister Nihilifer Vendetta 218 – vocals, bass
N. Psicopompos – guitars
Knoʯmenon – drums

Album Review – Reincarnated / Of Boötes Void Death Spell (2022)

Posted on by
Reply

Submit to the sonic onslaught found in the debut album by this infernal death and doom horde from Thailand, sounding absolutely gutted, ghastly and knuckle-dragging.

Diehard fans of bands the likes of Disma, Undergang, Funebrarum, Grave Miasma and early Necros Christos, among others, are wholeheartedly encouraged to submit to the sonic onslaught crafted by Thailand’s own Death/Doom Metal entity Reincarnated in their debut album, the infernal Of Boötes Void Death Spell. Recorded at Dee Music Studio, Nuclear Bomb Studio and TNT Music Productions, mixed at Nuclear Bomb Studios, mastered by Dan Lowdes at Resonance Sound Studio, and displaying a sick logo by Nox Fragor Art, layout and illustrations by Sickness 666 and a devilish booklet artwork By Festeringphlegm, Of Boötes Void Death Spell is basically a Death Metal maniac’s record recorded by the Death Metal maniacs NB on vocals, Patiwat and Saran on the guitars, Chester on bass and Thinnarat on drums, all skillful veterans of the Thai metal underground.

A short and sinister intro welcomes us all to the dark world ruled by Reincarnated in Ophiuchus Crypt, where Patiwat and Saran bring forward sheer doom armed with their riffs in a Blackened Doom feast with elements from Death Metal to make things even more menacing. Then NB’s haunting vocals will send shivers down your spine in Quasar God Oration, a lecture in modern-day Death and Doom Metal while also showcasing an amazing old school feeling, with Thinnarat inviting us all to break our necks headbanging to his devilish beats; whereas the venomous guitars by Patiwat and Saran generate a Stygian atmosphere in Proxima Hibernation, supported by the rumbling bass by Chester and another hammering performance by Thinnarat behind his drums. Triumphant Dead Comet is an avalanche of crushing doom for our total delight, with all infernal beats, riffs and bass lines offering NB exactly what he needs to vociferate like a creature form the underworld; and the sulfurous Tomb of Boötes Void puts a beyond demonic ending to the album, with Thinnarat pounding his drums mercilessly while NB roars and growls from the bottom of his blackened heart in another visceral hybrid of classic Death and Doom Metal.

In a nutshell, let’s say Reincarnated more than succeeded in achieving their goal of playing only the darkest and most doomed-out style of death in their debut full-length opus, sounding absolutely gutted, ghastly and knuckle-dragging until the very last second, with no room for innovation or progression. Hence, in order to show them all your admiration for their services to the underworld, you can start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, and of course purchase your copy of their venomous newborn beast from the Inhuman Assault Productions’ BandCamp page or webstore. Extreme music made in the scorching hot Thailand has never been more demonic and evil, and thanks to the talented and hardworking guys from Reincarnated we can rest assured darkness will forever emanate from their homeland.

Best moments of the album: Quasar God Oration and Triumphant Dead Comet.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2022 Inhuman Assault Productions

Track listing
1. Ophiuchus Crypt 7:27
2. Quasar God Oration 7:04
3. Proxima Hibernation 6:48
4. Triumphant Dead Comet 4:55
5. Tomb of Boötes Void 4:33

Band members
NB – vocals
Patiwat – guitars
Saran – guitars
Chester – bass
Thinnarat – drums

Album Review – Anticreation / From The Dust Of Embers (2022)

Posted on by
Reply

Behold this 34-minute aural declaration of war toward the insignificance of all terrain things masterfully crafted by a dynamic duo from Greece.

Born in the beginning of 2021 in Athens, Greece with the intent of creating sprawling, otherworldly abstract Death Metal embraced with lyrics about chaos, death and nightmarish realms and states of consciousness, the ruthless Black/Death Metal duo Necro on guitars and vocals and Noctus on bass and vocals, collectively known as Anticreation, emerges from the abysses of hell with their colossal debut album From the Dust of Embers, a 34-minute aural declaration of war toward the insignificance of all terrain things. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Descent Studio, and with layout by Cold Poison an logo and inner parts by Nox Fragor Art, From The Dust Of Embers is an imposing beast levitating with an immense aura of complete ruin and inevitability highly recommended for fans of Pseudogod, Immolation, Dead Congregation and Lucifyre, showcasing all the fury of Necro and Noctus accompanied by guest musicians Krzysztof Klingbein on drums and Slanderer on ambient and noise tracks.

The sinister intro Faith’s Demystifcation welcomes the listener to the Stygian lair ruled by Anticreation before the duo comes crushing in the title-track From the Dust of Embers, a straight-to-the-point, no shenanigans Black Metal onrush where Krzysztof proves why he was chosen by Necro and Noctus to take care of the drumming duties, and with Necro being not only bestial on the guitar but his guttural vocals are also infernal. Then starting in a beyond phantasmagorical manner, the obscure The Beauty of Lava brings forward elements from Doom Metal and Blackened Doom to make things even more menacing, with Noctus hammering his bass mercilessly, and the duo continues to extract sheer malignancy from their stringed weapons in Abomination Reborn while Krzysztof dictates the pace with his pounding beats. Put differently, it’s sulfurous Black Metal at its finest spiced up by a humongous dosage of Death Metal roars, whereas The Last Perception sounds even more demented and vicious than its predecessors, resulting in a Black Metal extravaganza where Necro’s strident, devilish riffs will pierce your mind ruthlessly.

Krzysztof smashes his drums like a beast in A Journey Into the Throat of Death, giving it a tribalistic vibe while the guitars and bass sound as caustic as possible, flowing into the interlude The Swarm, which will send shivers down your spine thanks to all the eerie, otherworldly noises and sounds crafted by Anticreation until all hell breaks loose in Unborn, a brutal Black Metal aria where Necro and Noctus once again darken our minds with their riffs and bass lines, not to mention how inhumane Krzysztof sounds behind his drums. Kathagiasis, the last song from the regular version of the album, showcases wicked vociferations by Necro accompanied by the menacing bass by Noctus, whereas lastly we’re treated to more of their caustic fusion of Black and Death Metal that’s worth the investment in the digital version of the album with the bonus track The Supreme Terror, which as its name already says will terrorize you for all eternity.

There’s no light at the end of the tunnel for your damned soul, which means the only option left for you is to succumb to the dark side and join Anticreation on their devilish path, and you can do so by following the band on Facebook and by purchasing the amazing From The Dust Of Embers from the band’s own BandCamp page, as well as from the Sentient Ruin Laboratories’ BandCamp page or webstore, or from the Nuclear Winter Records’ BandCamp page. In the end, we’re all insignificant, and Anticreation are among us to show us this unwanted truth armed with From The Dust Of Embers, an album that will surely be considered one of the top metal albums hailing from Greece this year.

Best moments of the album: From the Dust of Embers, Abomination Reborn and Unborn.

Worst moments of the album: The Beauty of Lava.

Released in 2022 Sentient Ruin Laboratories/Nuclear Winter Records

Track listing
1. Faith’s Demystifcation 0:45
2. From the Dust of Embers 4:04
3. The Beauty of Lava 5:44
4. Abomination Reborn 4:48
5. The Last Perception 4:10
6. A Journey Into the Throat of Death 4:33
7. The Swarm 0:45
8. Unborn 4:26
9. Kathagiasis 4:37

Digital Edition bonus track
10. The Supreme Terror 3:16

Band members
Necro – guitars, vocals
Noctus – bass, vocals

Guest musicians
Krzysztof Klingbein – drums
Slanderer – ambient/noise tracks