Tag Archives: post-black metal

Album Review – Der Rote Milan / Verlust EP (2025)

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Enveloped in shadow, this six-headed German Black Metal beast returns with a new EP encouraging us to sit with the discomfort, with the pain and acknowledge that change is certain, but it is not hopeless.

Enveloped in shadow, Trier, Germany-based sextet Der Rote Milan returns to action with more of their intense, melodic, riff-driven Black Metal in their newborn EP Verlust, the German word for “loss.” Produced by the band itself, recorded, mixed and mastered by Markus Stock  at Klangschmiede Studio E, and displaying a suffocating artwork by Matt Prison, the follow-up to their 2019 full-length album Moritat and their the 2023 EP Schlund sees the band formed of III on vocals, I and V on the guitars, VII on bass, II on synths, and VI on drums  develop further their Atmospheric Black Metal sound and lyrical depth, all steeped in a deep sense of humanity, of indulging in the human condition, even those parts many may wish to avoid, encouraging us to sit with the discomfort, with the pain and acknowledge that change is certain, but it is not hopeless.

The EP kicks off in great fashion to the strident, piercing riffs by I and V in Aus der Finsternis, or “out of the darkness” from German, evolving into a bestial fusion of old school Black Metal with Post-Black Metal nuances, sounding utterly hypnotizing and vile from start to finish. Où allez-vous, or “where are you going?”, brings forward more of their trademark sonority, with VI sounding ruthless as usual on drums while III vociferates the song’s devilish words majestically; and there’s no time to breathe as such a demonic horde invades our senses with Skepsis der Existenz, or “skepticism of existence” (referring to a philosophical doubt about the nature and reality of existence itself), perhaps the most Black Metal of all songs, with III once again stealing the show with his raspy growling. Verlust, the song that carries the name of the EP, brings forward an overdose of soul crushing riffs by I and V supported by the classy drumming by VI; and they close the EP on a vile and frantic mode with Der letzte Rubin, or “the last ruby.” inspired by a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Furthermore, I can imagine the speed and size of the circle pits that can be formed during it, all boosted by another rumbling background crafted by VII, II and VI.

Exploring a strange sense of beauty that emerges from despair through the multi-faceted nature in which loss is experienced, the music by Der Rote Milan draws not only from nature, but also from the darker side of humanity’s acts, notably historical wars in Central Europe, anti-religion and, on an individual level, inner conflict. The combination of those elements with the harshness of  Black Metal sounds once again fantastic in the band’s newborn EP, and if you want to put your damned hands on it simply go to BandCamp or to Unholy Conspiracy Deathwork, and don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, and stream their austere creations on any platform like Spotify. Because loss exists and purveys through our lives in many forms, one of them being the undisputed Black Metal offered by Der Rote Milan in albums like Verlust, a must-listen for admirers of the darkest side of music and life in general.

Best moments of the album: Où allez-vous and Skepsis der Existenz.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Unholy Conspiracy Deathwork

Track listing
1. Aus der Finsternis 4:46
2. Où allez-vous 4:40
3. Skepsis der Existenz 4:06
4. Verlust 4:12
5. Der letzte Rubin 5:04

Band members
III – vocals
I – guitar
V – guitar
VII – bass
II – synths
VI – drums

Album Review – Eldur / Rituals of Death and Necromancy (2025)

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This Icelandic Black Metal entity will take you on a journey that goes beyond simple listening in his debut album, a visceral and dense universe where chaos and harmony merge to create something truly unique.

After having sparked interest with a split CD and an EP, Reykjavík, Iceland-based Black Metal entity Eldur (aka Einar Thorberg Guðmundsson), who has been active since 1994 with bands such as Thule, Potentiam, Curse, Fortíð, and Katla, is finally ready to make his official debut with Rituals of Death and Necromancy, the first part of a series called Proscribed Chronicles of Niðavellir. A sonic wall of epicness and pure Black Metal, with Eldur’s usual heavy dose of 90’s influence and even Post-Black Metal nuances, Rituals of Death and Necromancy will take you on a journey that goes beyond simple listening, a visceral and dense universe where chaos and harmony merge to create something truly unique.

The opening track Exiled flirts with Symphonic Black Metal so imposing and epic it sounds, a lecture in darkness by Eldur with his vile roars and strident riffs sounding simply amazing from start to finish. Then an ominous intro to the sound of the howling wind sets the tone in Flight of Níðhöggr (a Germanic dragon in Norse mythology who is said to gnaw at the roots of the World Tree, Yggdrasil) before morphing into another Black Metal attack by our lone wolf who crushes his drums in the name of the dark arts; and every single time a song is called Shapeshifter we can rest assured it’s going to be heavy, violent and obscure, and Eldur brings to our ears exactly that Stygian vibe, whereas Murder and a Curse keeps the flames of Black Metal burning to Eldur’s evil vociferations and scathing riffs, albeit not as exciting as the rest of the album.

Svartálfaheimr (“world of black-elves”) is one of the Nine Realms in Norse mythology, and musically speaking Eldur kicks our asses mercilessly in a lecture in Black Metal infused with Nordic sounds, where his sometimes ruthless, sometimes sluggish beats bring extra flavors to the overall result. Eldur then speeds things up in the infuriated Black Metal chant Second Life, Second Death, offering a galloping, demonic sonority perfect for worshiping absolute darkness. The last couple of songs of the album surpass the six minute mark, starting with The Dark Mountains, as sinister and imposing as it can be, exploding into total insanity to his vile roars supported by the song’s phantasmagorical background keys, and closing the album we have the stunning Undead where Eldur’s visceral gnarls, riffs and blast beats live up to the legacy of the style, resulting in what’s perhaps the strongest song of the album and a good indication as to what’s next in his dark path.

An album brought into being not only for metal fans, but also for those who seek something deeper and more introspective in a musical landscape that, while rich in offerings, often feels repetitive, Rituals of Death and Necromancy can be purchased from BandCamp or from Metal Odissey’s webstore in the US or in the EU/UK, adding tons of depth, heaviness and power to your private collection. In the end, Eldur brings fresh energy to a scene that needs new impulses armed with the excellent Rituals of Death and Necromancy, challenging the listener to dive into their intricate sonic web and lose themselves in it.

Best moments of the album: Exiled, Svartálfaheimr and Undead.

Worst moments of the album: Murder and a Curse.

Released in 2025 ATMF

Track listing
1. Exiled 4:28
2. Flight of Níðhöggr 5:22
3. Shapeshifter 4:53
4. Murder and a Curse 6:23
5. Svartálfaheimr 5:24
6. Second Life, Second Death 4:50
7. The Dark Mountains 6:37
8. Undead 6:22

Band members
Eldur – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Drofnosura / Ritual of Split Tongues (2025)

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A strange beast that’s absolutely comfortable in its own iridescent, translucent skin, this Canadian entity will stun us all with their expansive, stirring, and dissonant new album.

A strange beast that’s absolutely comfortable in its own iridescent, translucent skin, Toronto, Canada-based Blackened/Atmospheric Sludge/Post-Metal entity Drofnosura has been taking elements from multiple styles since their inception back in 2010, finely grounding them, and using the material to sculpt a new body entirely, just like what they have to offer in their sophomore opus Ritual of Split Tongues, following up on their scathing 2019 debut Voidfever. Showcasing a beyond menacing, disturbing artwork by Dusty Ray Art, the new album by W.L.F. on guitars, vocals, and synthesizers, M.A.D. on bass, vocals and synthesizers, and D.A.S. on drums, percussion, vocals and synthesizers sees the band traversing various realms, with a few songs surpassing the 15-minute mark, putting the emphasis on creating a meditative, transcendent atmosphere more than anything else.

Like a vile creature arising from the pits of the netherworld, the trio comes crushing our cranial skulls mercilessly in Selection of a Corpse, with the hammering drums by D.A.S. and the visceral guitars by W.L.F. complementing each other in great fashion. Then in the context of Hindu cremation, Kapala Kriya is a ritual where the skull of the deceased is pierced with a stick during the cremation process, while in heavy music it’s a ten-minute demented creation by Drofnosura where their venomous, minimalist vocal lines will haunt your damned souls for all eternity, sounding almost like the actual Hindu ritual. Then the title-track The Ritual of Split Tongues brings to our putrid ears over 15 minutes of primeval, sinister Doom Metal with Post-Black Metal elements led by the once again slow but fierce beats by D.A.S., followed by ἐγείρω (egeirō), a Greek verb that primarily means to raise, awaken, or stir up. It can also mean to wake up from sleep or to be awakened, as well as it can refer to the act of resurrecting or raising someone from the dead, resulting in a ritualistic interlude that sets the tone for The Well of Seven Heads, where the band shows absolutely no mercy for our damned minds and bodies while their Atmospheric Sludge Metal vein pulses harder than ever during its venomous 12 minutes, flowing into the also atmospheric, gloomy and dissonant Desounen, putting a Stygian ending to an album not recommended for the lighthearted.

Highly recommended for admirers of the music by Blut aus Nord, Devenial Verdict, Eibon, Amenra, Lurk, Isis, Pillar of Light, and The Angelic Process, among others, Ritual of Split Tongues is an astounding album where multiple influences converge to create music that’s at once expansive, stirring, and dissonant, and lingers on in the mind for longer than one would think, with the music naturally evolving within each of the songs as they progress, and it isn’t fatiguing just because it’s done in such an intuitive manner. You can get more details about Drofnosura, their music, live concerts and so on by checking what they’re up to on Facebook and on Instagram (or by clicking HERE), stream their cryptic creations on Spotify, and of course show your support to those talented Canadians by purchasing their bestial new album from their own BandCamp, as well as from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, US store or EU store. In the end, Ritual of Split Tongues is certainly not an album for the lighthearted as mentioned, but let’s face it, that’s exactly what Drofnosura wanted to achieve with their multi-layered, grim and absolutely stunning new album.

Best moments of the album: The Ritual of Split Tongues and The Well of Seven Heads.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Selection of a Corpse 6:23
2. Kapala Kriya 10:22
3. The Ritual of Split Tongues 15:27
4. ἐγείρω 3:48
5. The Well of Seven Heads 12:28
6. Desounen 15:01

Band members
W.L.F. – guitars, vocals, synthesizers
M.A.D. – bass, vocals, synthesizers
D.A.S. – drums, percussion, vocals, synthesizers

Album Review – Unsouling / Outward Streams of Devotional Woe (2025)

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This Minneapolis, Minnesota-based one-man project returns with his excellent sophomore opus based on loss, grief, and a longing to bring back connection via spiritual or even metaphysical reach.

After the dissolution of Feral Light, Minneapolis, Minnesota-based frontman and songwriter A.S. (aka Andy Schoengrund) wasted no time in channeling his artistic flair into a new project, the Experimental Black/Death Metal creature known as Unsouling. The project’s 2024 debut, Vampiric Spiritual Drain, laid the foundation for a new stylistic approach that is now fully realized on Outward Streams of Devotional Woe, its sophomore release. Conceived and recorded by A.S. at The Crypt, mixed by Sanford Parker at Hypercube Studios, mastered by Adam Tucker at Signaturetone Recording, and displaying an eerie artwork by Luciana Nedelea (with layout by Francesco Gemelli, known as Unexpected Specter), Outward Streams Of Devotional Woe is based on loss, grief, and a longing to bring back connection via spiritual or even metaphysical reach, and how this can bring great comfort.

The album starts with the cryptic, obscure Immaterial Entrance, where A.S. delivers minimalist riffs, bass lines and beats before morphing into an Atmospheric Black Metal beast, with its second half turning into sheer chaos and violence. Then investing in a more Doom Metal-inspired sonority it’s time for Your Momentary Passing, showcasing his harsh, anguished roars and sluggish drums, as well as a wall of experimentations. And presenting nuances of the Melodic Death Metal played by bands like Insomnium we have To Come Unbound, sounding utterly chilling and obscure until the end; whereas Grief Reconfigured is a lecture in Black Metal where A.S. puts the pedal to the metal and delivers his heaviest and most demonic side while also bringing forward pensive and visceral Blackened Doom moments. His metallic bass sets the tone in Towering Black Wave, another hybrid of Doom Metal with atmospheric and melodic passages, and it’s then time for the two-minute introspective interlude Passages, where his stylish sounds permeate the air until all comes to an end with Dissolved in Spiritus, crushing our minds and souls to A.S.’s vile gnarls and Post-Black Metal riffs, with its countless layers and tempo changes giving the whole song a hypnotizing vibe.

“The album differs from its predecessor in that the meandering exploration of Vampiric Spiritual Drain has been replaced with a more sure-footed and focused journey,” explained A.S. “The anchor of black metal with its bleed into gothic, dark wave, and death metal influences is still very much present, but it is more reigned in and pointed.” In terms of the themes covered, Unsouling remain faithful to the poetics of its debut, but, if possible, accentuate its existentialist vein, being therefore highly recommended for admirers of Sacramentum, Grave, Morgion, and Feral Light, just to name a few. You can also connect with A.S. and his Unsouling via Instagram, stream his unique music on Spotify, and above all that, grab a copy of Outward Streams of Devotional Woe from the project’s own BandCamp, from the I, Voidhanger Records’ BandCamp, or from Metal Odissey (in the US or in the EU/UK), or simply click HERE for all thing Unsouling. In the end, loss and grief are always extremely difficult to process inside our minds and hearts, and the music blasted by Unsouling in Outward Streams of Devotional Woe perfectly depicts that excruciating challenge, always supported by the dark beauty of extreme music.

Best moments of the album: Immaterial Entrance and Dissolved in Spiritus.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 I, Voidhanger Records

Track listing
1. Immaterial Entrance 6:02
2. Your Momentary Passing 4:58
3. To Come Unbound 5:22
4. Grief Reconfigured 5:18
5. Towering Black Wave 6:23
6. Passages 2:04
7. Dissolved in Spiritus 5:35

Band members
A.S. – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Syllogomania / Syllogomania (2025)

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An uncanny Post-Black Metal entity from Poland will attack your senses with its debut opus, a record of the past while also representing the chaos we constantly stumble over in our present and future.

The term “syllogomania” refers to the compulsive hoarding of items, leading to a cluttered living space and significant disruption to social and professional life, often stemming from loneliness, social isolation, and a lack of motivation to maintain order. In the underground of heavy music, Syllogomania is the brand new Post-Black Metal project by the uncanny vocalist and multi-instrumentalist A.I.G., formed in Kraków, Poland between 2021 and 2022 from the ashes of his previous band. Recorded at A.I.G.’s own home studio, mixed and mastered by Przemysław Nowak at Impressive-Art Studio, and displaying a sinister artwork by A.I.G. himself, his debut self-titled album is a record of the past, while also representing the chaos we constantly stumble over in our present and future, the moments we see the lives of our oldest relatives come to an end, and finally our own life that we have already lost from the start, which we lived in vain.

The title-track Syllogomania is very experimental, cryptic and demented, with A.I.G. delivering some circus-inspired sounds that will captivate your senses and drag you to total darkness before he starts distilling his devilish gnarls, followed by Drink The Fire, Fan The Flames, a more straightforward Blackened Death Metal beast by our lone wolf, with all beats and guitar lines reeking of absolute madness. A.I.G. then speeds things up and crushes our damned souls with his harsh and caustic Post-Black Metal in Of Emptiness, alternating between sheer savagery and epic neck-breaking moments; and continuing his path of total devastation and hatred he offers us all Slumber, where his anguished roars will penetrate deep inside your putrid mind like a vile parasite. Lastly, we face Modlitwa, or “prayer” from Polish, featuring guest vocals by Stawrogin (Gruzja, Odraza, Totenmesse), the most apocalyptic ending possible to the album, sounding very dynamic, diverse and full of nuances and layers.

A solitary, heavy, aggressive and rotten Black Metal creature from the dust-choked streets of Krákow, Syllogomania‘s debut record is an unforgiving assault on the senses, an intense dive into the chaos of a mind consumed by its own existence, highly recommended for fans of Shining, MGLA, Forgotten Tomb, Gaerea, Odraza, Aenaon, and Psychonau. You can find more information (but not too much) about the mysterious, grim Syllogomania on Facebook and on Instagram, and purchase the album from the project’s own BandCamp or from the Loudriver Records’ BandCamp or webstore. In a nutshell, Syllogomania is a brutal snapshot of a childhood choked by mould, insects, and an unrelenting pile of dust covered boxes, untouchable, suffocating and the still-coming madness we keep falling into. Dust. Emptiness. Anger. Nothing more, nothing less.

Best moments of the album: Of Emptiness and Slumber.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Loudriver Records

Track listing
1. Syllogomania 6:04
2. Drink The Fire, Fan The Flames 4:14
3. Of Emptiness 6:27
4. Slumber 7:28
5. Modlitwa 8:22

Band members
A.I.G. – vocals, guitars, bass, drum programming

Guest musician
Stawrogin – vocals on “Modlitwa”

Album Review – Hasard / Abgnose (2025)

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The sophomore album by this talented French musician sees him dive deeper into nightmarish atmospheres, twisted harmonies and the interaction between orchestra and a typical metal instrumentation.

A spin-off project of Les Chants du Hasard, committed to deliver the darkest and most dissonant Black Metal in the fertile ground on which fascinating orchestral melodies with a dark, melancholic and resigned mood flourish, Paris, France-based Avantgarde Black Metal entity Hasard returns with its sophomore opus, entitled Abgnose. Mastered by Olivier Prouvost, and displaying a sinister artwork by Roy de Rat, the follow-up to the project’s 2023 album Malivore sees vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Hazard dive deeper into nightmarish atmospheres, twisted harmonies and the interaction between orchestra and a typical metal instrumentation, being therefore highly recommended for fans of Akhlys, Aoratos, Blut Aus Nord, and Wreche.

Just like in his previous album, our lone wolf blends the finesse of classical music and opera with the harshness of Avantgarde Black Metal in Oniritisme, with his Stygian vocals walking hand in hand with his haunting riffs and blast beats. Senestral continues to breathe darkness into our already blackened hearts and souls, sounding as the soundtrack to a true psychological horror movie while Hazard’s drumming reeks of classic Black Metal for our total delight; and there’s no time to breathe as Hazard’s nightmarish sounds will penetrate deep inside your rotten mind in Negascendance, a lecture in Avantgarde Black Metal with elements from Post-Black Metal and progressive nuances. Antienne Estrale, the longest of all songs, is also the most detailed, dynamic and multi-layered, not to mention it is creepy and grim as hell, growing in intensity and fire until all fades into oblivion in a lesson in  experimental and extreme music, whereas finally,  the title-track Abgnose closes the album on a high note, with Hazard not only delivering venomous riffs and sluggish beats, but his keys are also phantasmagorical.

The last remnant of the 19th century romanticism had a few words to say about his newborn spawn. “Abgnose is a testament to the greater force that governs our lives, neither a god or a devil, but only pure chance. There is no greater entity sitting in the sky or below the earth, who watches with interest our petty lives. Only pure chance and random events. We spend a short amount of time as a small point on an equally small planet lost somewhere in the universe and we die, only for our futile achievements to be forgotten as fast as we’re replaced. Just count the here and now, as there’s no afterlife. Abgnose stands for removing the idea of the divine, thus leaving only the despair of having to live and not be rewarded for our actions in this world.” Hence, you can get in touch with such a talented musician via Facebook and Instagram, stream his music on Spotify, and of course purchase Abgnose from BandCamp or from Metal Odissey as a CD (EU and US) or LP (EU or US).  Always deeper into nightmares, always further into despair. To what end? That’s a question Hazard keeps asking at every note in his excellent new album.

Best moments of the album: Senestral, Negascendance and Antienne Estrale.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 I, Voidhanger Records

Track listing
1. Oniritisme 8:24
2. Senestral 7:02
3. Negascendance 8:34
4. Antienne Estrale 10:06
5. Abgnose 9:50

Band members
Hazard – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Visitant / Rubidium (2025)

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A newborn Blackened Death Metal beast from Florida is ready to kill to the sound of their debut offering, embodying the bleakest parts of being human.

Formed in February 2022 in Pensacola, Florida, in the United States by guitarist Taylor Tidwell (Unaligned, Withered Throne) and vocalist Chelsea Marrow (Voraath, The Monster Factory), Visitant are a Blackened Death Metal band that weaves ethereal elements into a soundscape that is as haunting as it is aggressive. Lyrically and musically, the band crafts immersive dreamscapes, ritualistic and unrelenting, that channel the essence of restless, vengeful spirits. Recorded by Taylor Tidwell and Anthony Lusk-Simone, produced and mixed by Anthony Lusk-Simone, mastered by Jason Fisher at Exitus Stratagem Records, and displaying a stylish artwork by Chelsea Marrow (with layout and logo by Maxwell Aston), Rubidium is the debut album by the aforementioned Taylor Tidwell and Chelsea Marrow alongside bassist Kilian Duarte (Abiotic, Lattermath, Felix Martin, Scale the Summit), and drummer Anthony Lusk-Simone (Abiotic, Lattermath, Pathogenic), embodying the bleakest parts of being human while dealing with the darkest emotions such as grief, loss, betrayal, vengeance, time lost, and regret.

Chelsea already showcases all her vocal depth and rage in the opening tune Unworldly, an imposing Black Metal aria where Anthony’s pounding drums and background orchestrations sound absurdly heavy, followed by Briars, offering another whimsical, atmospheric start to the band’s minimalist sounds before Taylor and Killian fire piercing, monumental sounds from their axes supported by the Black and Death Metal drumming by Anthony. Visitant then bring to our avid years another avalanche of cinematic and obscure sounds in Starless, where Chelsea’s gnarls walk hand in hand with Anthony’s drums, followed by the demolishing Rubidium, keeping the atmosphere as heavy and dense as possible. In Fodder, Chelsea keeps screaming the song’s devilish words (“A cold eclipse / An opening amidst flame / Your being, engulfed / I never thought I’d see your face beyond the light”) while her bandmates generate the most sulfurous and evil Blackened Death Metal sound imaginable. Then blasting a gripping fusion of Symphonic Black Metal with Post-Black Metal elements we have Envies Lament, with the riffage by Taylor sounding acid and vile; and last but not least, we face one final Black Metal attack by the quartet entitled Moon Bathe, with Taylor stealing the spotlight with his infernal, caustic riffage.

In a nutshell, fans of Gojira, Opeth, Naglfar, and Between the Buried and Me will certainly have a blast with the visceral experience that transcends genre boundaries offered by Visitant in Rubidium, placing the band under the radar of most metalheads across the world who enjoy a solid and professional fusion of aggressiveness, violence, harmony, obscurity and rage. You can get more details about this up-and-coming horde hailing from Florida by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, keep an eye on their official videos on their YouTube channel, stream their music on Spotify, and of course purchase a copy of their flammable debut by clicking HERE. Chelsea, Taylor & Co. are summoning a beast from the abyss in their first ever full-length offering, darkening the skies and haunting our souls mercilessly and, therefore, already getting us all hyped for whatever comes next in their exciting career in the upcoming years.

Best moments of the album: Unworldly, Fodder and Envies Lament.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Exitus Stratagem Records

Track listing
1. Unworldly 4:48
2. Briars 5:20
3. Starless 5:07
4. Rubidium 5:24
5. Fodder 4:37
6. Envies Lament 4:56
7. Moon Bathe 2:38

Band members
Chelsea Marrow – vocals
Taylor Tidwell – guitars
Kilian Duarte – bass
Anthony Lusk-Simone – drums, orchestration

Album Review – Ba’al / The Fine Line Between Heaven And Here (2025)

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This amazing Blackened Post-Metal act from the UK strikes back with a dark new album, drawing on the band’s personal experiences, exploring themes of grief, depression, suicide, substance abuse and existential dread.

Forged in the fires of Sheffield, in South Yorkshire, England, Blackened Post-Metal creature Ba’al (a title and honorific meaning “lord” in the Northwest Semitic languages spoken in the Levant during antiquity, which came to be applied to gods from its use among people) is unleashing upon us their new album, titled The Fine Line Between Heaven And Here, a caustic fusion of Black, Sludge and Post-Metal recommended for fans of Crippled Black Phoenix, Harakiri For The Sky, Inter Arma, and Sgaile, among others. Recorded and mixed by Joe Clayton at No Studio and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, the same team that brought such a richly textured darkness to the last Ba’al release, and adorned in the stunning artwork of True Spilt Milk Designs, the new album by Joe Stamps on vocals, Nick Gosling and Chris Mole on the guitars, Richard Spencer on bass, and Luke Rutter on drums draws on the band’s personal experiences, exploring themes of grief, depression, suicide, substance abuse and existential dread, invoking the intensely human struggles that are played out against this backdrop of disparate elements and in every other place our troubled species has carved out a home.

Mother’s Concrete Womb is simply dark and sinister from the very beginning, gradually morphing into a massive hybrid of the harshness of Melodic Black Metal with the finesse of Post-Black Metal, with the nonstop screams by Joe sounding truly devilish, smoothly flowing into Waxwork Gorgon, where the minimalist yet caustic guitars by Nick and Chris exhale darkness, not to mention all Doom Metal elements present in the music make it even heavier and more compelling. Floral Cairn brings forward more of their neck breaking, melodic and piercing sounds, with Luke showcasing tons of dexterity and power behind his drums, dictating the song’s pace flawlessly; and the band then captures our senses in a dark embrace with the 11-minute aria Well of Sorrows, with the riffage by Nick and Chris guiding the listener through the band’s unruly Post-Black Metal waters, sounding all very detailed, vibrant and doomed. The Ocean That Fills a Wound is even more introspective and enfolding, another lecture in Post-Black Metal where Joe declaims the song’s pensive words with tons of passion, alternating between atmospheric moments and crushing, anguished passages, whereas lastly it’s time for Legasov, bringing to our avid ears one final onrush of melodic yet harsh sounds, with their haunting vocals, sharp riffs and Doom Metal drums putting a phantasmagorical ending to the album.

The journey through the musical landscapes in The Fine Line Between Heaven And Here is a dark and exciting one, and I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time listening to it from start to finish. Ba’al are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and more of their music, and you can not only stream their music on Spotify, but also purchase their excellent new album from BandCamp, from Road to Masochist, or by clicking HERE, letting their blackened sounds penetrate deep inside your mind and soul while at the same time connecting their music with your own personal experiences and struggles, proving why modern-day Post-Metal is one of the most humane styles in heavy music and, therefore, allowing the musicians involved to open up their hearts to us fans with each of their amazing songs, just like what’s offered to us all in The Fine Line Between Heaven And Here.

Best moments of the album: Well of Sorrows and The Ocean That Fills a Wound.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Road to Masochist

Track listing
1. Mother’s Concrete Womb 12:56
2. Waxwork Gorgon 8:41
3. Floral Cairn 7:46
4. Well of Sorrows 11:03
5. The Ocean That Fills a Wound 13:25
6. Legasov 8:18

Band members
Joe Stamps – vocals
Nick Gosling – guitar
Chris Mole – guitar
Richard Spencer – bass
Luke Rutter – drums

Concert Review – Rivers Of Nihil (Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ON, 06/22/2025)

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A scorching night of sheer progressiveness and aggressiveness in Toronto, courtesy of some of the must-see names of the current American rock and metal scene.

OPENING ACTS: Glacial Tomb, Inter Arma and Holy Fawn

This Sunday night in Toronto was one of those days that felt like you were at an open air sauna, and GLACIAL TOMB, INTER ARMA, HOLY FAWN and RIVERS OF NIHIL made sure Lee’s Palace got even hotter and more humid during their The Aggressive Progressive Tour 2025, their last stop of the tour, and another excellent event brought to the city by the one and only Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi coundn’t be there, unfortunately, but not only I was there inside the rock and metal sauna called Lee’s Palace to cover such a great night of heavy music, but I was also lucky enough to get some wild shots from our brother Ryan Miles Leblanc to add to this review. Furthermore, if you take into account almost every single band on this planet is playing at all of those awesome European summer festivals (just check the lineup for Graspop Metal Meeting this year, for example), it’s actually a miracle Toronto got this show during what’s in my humble opinion one of the biggest “metal concert draughts” in the history of the city. In all seriousness, I’m starting to get worried about the future of heavy music in Toronto, as we’re getting less and less concerts, and even being left out of tours scheduled for multiple Canadian location, but Toronto.

Done with the rant about the lack of metal concerts in Toronto. Let’s get back to the show, and what an amazing show by Denver, Colorado’s own Sludge/Death/Black Metal beast GLACIAL TOMB, kicking ass hard in the ass with their heavier-than-hell sounds. Having released the excellent Lightless Expanse last year, available on both BandCamp and on Spotify, the band formed of Ben Hutcherson, Kevin Berstler, David Small and Joey Spates took no prisoners in their quest for heaviness and obscurity, crushing our damned souls with violent yet melodic and grim songs like Abyssal Host and Stygian Abattoir. Those guys were by far one of the most solid opening bands I’ve ever seen live, raising the bar high for the upcoming attractions of the night, and if you’ve never seen Glacial Tomb live or if you’ve never heard anything from them, I highly recommend you go check their discography and keep an eye on their tour dates, because they’re definitely a must-see band of the current underground scene.

Setlist
Abyssal Host
Voidwomb
Stygian Abattoir
Wound of Existence
The Lightless Expanse
Enshrined in Concrete

Band members
Ben Hutcherson – vocals, guitars
Kevin Berstler – guitars
David Small – bass
Joey Spates – drums

After a short and necessary break, where everyone took the time to cool off with some beer and water (and one of the concert goers even said the air outdoor felt like “butternut squash soup,” just to give you an idea of how hot and humid it was), it was time for Richmond, Virginia-based Sludge/Black/Death/Post-Metal outfit INTER ARMA (and hell yeah, I love their name!) to bring sheer doom to the venue with their noisy and apocalyptic performance. Their ruthless setlist was comprised basically of songs from their latest album New Heaven, released in 2024 (also available on BandCamp and on Spotify), those being New Heaven, Violet Seizures, and Concrete Cliffs, and oh boy, those songs sounded heavier than a thousand thunders. Frontman Mike Paparo was on fire throughout their entire concert, as well as a tiny bit drunk (which was actually fun), supported by the unrelenting guitarists Steven “Dirt” Russell and Trey Dalton, and just like I said for Glacial Tomb, if you know nothing about Inter Arma simply go after their discography because those guys play amazing metal music.

Setlist
New Heaven
Citadel
Violet Seizures
Concrete Cliffs
An Archer in the Emptiness

Band members
Mike Paparo – vocals
Steven “Dirt” Russell – guitars
Trey Dalton – guitars
Joel Moore – bass
Alex Tomlin – drums

The venue got really packed (and consequently even hotter) when Phoenix, Arizona’s cult Post-Black Metal/Rock act HOLY FAWN took the stage for the total delight of their fans, blasting a dark and gripping setlist including songs from all of their albums, like their 2022 opus Dimensional Bleed, plus their brand new single Beneath a Lightless Star, all available on BandCamp and on Spotify. Literally everyone at Lee’s Palace was having an absolute blast with those American rockers, getting louder and louder as they kept delivering total heaviness armed with their sonic weapons. It was indeed a phenomenal concert by Holy Fawn, proving why they’ve become legends in the underground scene, and even the guys from Rivers of Nihil were enjoying their show a lot from backstage. I guess it won’t take long for the band to return to Toronto, maybe as the headliners next time, and I’m beyond certain it will be a sold out event.

Setlist
Candy
Dark Stone
Blood Pact
Beneath a Lightless Star
New song (SVR)
Void of Light
Seer

Band members
Ryan Osterman – vocals, guitar
Evan Phelps – guitar
Alexander Rieth – bass
Austin Reinholz – drums

RIVERS OF NIHIL

It wasn’t even 9:30pm, which is amazing as that usually means we can all enjoy the show to the fullest without worrying about the time and go home earlier than expected, when the main attraction of the night, Reading, Pennsylvania’s unstoppable Progressive/Technical Death Metal masters RIVERS OF NIHIL took the stage by storm with a brilliant performance, igniting a beautiful “hurricane” on the floor section. Currently promoting their 2025 self-titled new album, which you can enjoy in full on BandCamp and on Spotify, the band formed of Adam Biggs, Brody Uttley, Andy Thomas and Jared Klei, with the support of the awesome saxophonist Patrick Corona (of the excellent Progressive Metalcore band Cyborg Octopus), delivered a powerful, captivating, heavy-as-hell and extremely dynamic show, with songs like The Silent Life, American Death and Water & Time sounding even better live than in the studio, which is always a delight for me, by the way. The band was tight, there was zero room for error, and the reaction of their fans to each song played was a thing of beauty. We even got a wall of death to the sound of Patrick’s saxophone. Thank you, Rivers of Nihil, for bringing some quality heavy music to the city during this boring period of musical draught, and whenever you guys decide to pay the city of Toronto a visit again, rest assured we’ll all be here waiting for you.

Setlist
The Sub‐Orbital Blues
The Silent Life
American Death
A Home
The Void From Which No Sound Escapes
Water & Time
House of Light
Death Is Real
Episode
Where Owls Know My Name

Encore:
Clean

Band members
Adam Biggs – vocals, bass
Brody Uttley – guitars
Andy Thomas – guitars, backing vocals
Jared Klein – drums, backing vocals
Patrick Corona – saxophone

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Concert Review – Tribulation (Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ON, 05/25/2025)

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***Review by Kevin Ibbitson and photos by Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi***

OPENING ACTS: Unreqvited, Final Gasp and Early Moods

Thankfully the rain had stopped by the time us fans began to queue up in front of Lee’s Palace as Swedish goth/death metal band TRIBULATION and friends (UNREQVITED, FINAL GASP and EARLY MOODS) visited our fair city on their North America 2025 Tour, another great event brought to Toronto by Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. It was not a sold out show by any means, which was quite surprising since the these are all killer bands. Maybe the Scattered showers scared folks away. Who knows? Their loss I guess! They happened to miss out on a fantastic night of heavy metal sorcery. Ultimately the lower turn out made the show feel more intimate and Lee’s is a smaller venue anyway, besides, the crowd that showed up proved to be die-hard supporters (good on them!). All in all I would say that at least over 100 head bangers showed up in support.
The first band to play was UNREQVITED, out of our nations capital Ottawa, and they promptly set the mood with their brand of post-black/shoegaze which reminded me a lot of  the French band Alcest, which I didn’t mind because I’m a fan of them also. I found their music to be atmospheric and introspective as well as head-bobbing/banging. This band has fantastic vocals from soothing cleans to raspy black metal grumblings and howls. Although I could see that for some in the crowd that shoegaze was not exactly their cup of tea, they still appreciated the music set before them. By the way, if you enjoy that type of music, the band has recently released the album A Pathway to the Moon, and you can purchase it or stream it in full on BandCamp and on Spotify.

Setlist
The Starforger
Void Essence / Frozen Tears
The Autumn Fire

Band members
鬼 (Ghost) – vocals, all instruments
Victor Forest – guitars
Robin Parsons – bass
Alec Curren – drums

For those in the crowd that were feeling a bit drowsy, EARLY MOODS out of Los Angeles, California, bitch-slapped their asses and got the place buzzing. This band is so freaking awesome. They blasted us with their brand of energetically powerful doom metal and swagger. You get everything you need out of this band like energy, excitement, groove, sore necks and killer riffs. These guys are killer! I highly recommend that you check them out the next time they swing by town, you won’t be disappointed, and go check their music on BandCamp or Spotify, like their 2024 album A Sinner’s Past. The crowd absolutely loved this band and so do I. I also loved that these guys joined the crowd after their set and head-banged along side us in support of their fellow tour mates.

Setlist
Isolated
Blood Offerings
Return To Salem’s Gate
Live To Suffer
Soul Sorcery
A Sinner’s Past
Damnation

Band members
Alberto Alcaraz – vocals
Eddie Andrade – guitars
Oscar Hernandez – guitars
Elix Feliciano – bass
Chris Flores – drums

Next up was a band called FINAL GASP out of Boston, MA. This deathrock outfit kept the buzz going throughout the building with a highly energetic set. The lead singer Jake Murphy tried on several occasions to get a circle pit going but nobody took the bait but he did manage to get the crowd to come a little closer to the stage. It was a small crowd after all, but you can’t knock him for trying though. Even still, the crowd was receptive to Final Gasp and they put on a great performance for the crowd as it was their final show on this tour. I wouldn’t say no to seeing them again if they ever come back to town. Killer band, and you can enjoy their entire discography, like their most recent album Mourning Moon, released in 2023, in places like BandCamp and Spotify.

Setlist
Look Away
Climax Infinity
Mourning Moon
Apparition
Blood & Sulfur
Temptation
Homebound
Suicide

Band members
Jake Murphy – vocals
James Forsythe – guitars
Peter Micanovic – guitars
Sean Rose – bass
Eric Lester – drums

TRIBULATION

I last saw blackened-goth metallers TRIBULATION when they opened up for Opeth this past Thanksgiving and they impressed me, so I was delighted to hear that they were coming back to Toronto for their North American tour. Seriously, are there any shitty metal bands in Sweden? Because I haven’t found one yet. Swedish Metal is so consistent and Tribulation out of Arvika, Sweden are no slouch. They are an absolutely fantastic band, as you can see in their 2024 opus Sub Rosa in Æternum, available on several streaming services like Spotify. Tribulation put on another amazing show, ensorcelling and enchanting all of the die-hard supporters that showed up with unrelenting class. They are such a tight, professional band, you seriously can’t go wrong seeing them live. I look forward to seeing them again some day.

Setlist
The Unrelenting Choir
Tainted Skies
Nightbound
Hamartia
Suspiria De Profundis
Melancholia
In Remembrance
Hungry Waters
Saturn Coming Down
Murder In Red
Strange Gateways Beckon

Band members
Johannes Andersson – vocals, bass
Adam Zaars – guitars
Joseph Tholl – guitars
Oscar Leander – drums

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