Storm Kvlt - Europas Weg zum Grab (2022)

 

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Another delicious bowl of raw black metal served up fresh and ready for ear absorption. I will not lie, this album does not reinvent the wheel, but damn if it doesn't show us a great was to use it. Grab a drink and have a smoke and tune in for today's program. 

Europas Weg zum Grab

Хмарь - Мгла (2021)

 

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Debut effort from Russia's Хмарь is full of emotion and humility, coupled with crisp, clean production and the rawest vocals I've heard so far. I have been consuming truckloads of BM the last few months and have to admit, I have never been happier emotionally, or felt more stable then now. Fuck the hype, fill your ears with this and do something good for yourself today.

Мгла 

Ominous Resurrection - Judgement (2020)

 

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Ominous Resurrection pushes the emotional, starkness of black metal into new and uncharted territory with their latest effort. The album delivers the blasting drive we all love, mixed with sludgy, thick as syrup lofi production. And the guitar tones are fucking incredible. Grab this and go for a walk. It's starting to get warm again. 

Judgement

Darkenhöld - Arcanes & Sortilèges (2020)

 

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It took awhile for me to warm up to this recording, mostly because of the medieval/viking-esque vibes I get when listening to it. It feels like I'm going into battle, to defend the Kings honor and protect my homeland from the evil cocksuckers who are trying to invade it. 

Arcanes & Sortilèges

Drakonis - Blessed By Embers (2020)

 

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In between the hollow shrieks and blast beats you will hear faint ethereal voices, calling you towards the light, protecting you from the dark. That's the theme I feel when listening to this album. 

Blessed By Embers

Horrenda - Díoltas (2020)

 

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I like to play this record first thing in the AM, right as the sun is rising while I am begrudgery driving to work. Sometimes twice, depending on how the commute goes. It's a subtle ebb and flow of heavy as fuck BM, interspersed with the occasional thick-as-mud sludge riffs. The whole record is really well-balanced, just like the breakfast I had this morning.

Díoltas

Omination - The Pale Horseman (2020)

 

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A big powerful sound fills this single track. Clocking in at almost 27 minutes, this record is a stark reminder of the unrelenting alienation that swallowed the plant whole at the beginning of this decade. This track drips with dread and picks at the smallest cracks in your sanity. It's a heady trip, so tread lightly.  

The Pale Horseman

Mongrel's Cross - Arcana, Scrying And Revelation (2020)

 

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Well produced, thrashy at times, Australian Black Metal at its finest. This record is chock-full of  great solos, and catchy riffs. I like to imagine the ghoul on the cover is narrating a story for the listener. The vocals are certainly ghoulish enough for me. 

Arcana, Scrying And Revelation

Гнёт - Дыханье [Дemo] (2020)

 

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Super tight, low-fi raw back metal, served fresh from the darkest pits of Russia. I love finding gems like this, tucked away in the furthest reaches of the interwebs. This dude has been pumping out massive amounts of material for the last few years, all worth a listen. 

Дыханье [Дemo]

Mystic Circle - Mystic Circle (2022)

 

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Upon first listen, I had this incredible urge to play the first Castlevania game. It was as if something deep inside me awoke and demanded that I play that damn game. I think it's because the content of this album has very similar sounds that conjured up this nostalgic imagery. The guitars are often played so fast that they sound robotic, almost 8-Bit in nature, coupled with elegant piano passages and drums that blast nonstop for 45 minutes. Also, the solos are fucking amazing. Grab this and a whip and kill your demons!

Mystic Circle

Mizmor (מזמור) - Yodh (2016)

 

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There is a perfect balance of black and doom metal on this recording, all packaged together with beautiful acoustic passages. The cover art does really add to the experience of longing, and loneliness this record can sometimes produce. There's a really great article here that explains the relationship between the 2 art mediums. It’s cold and snowy and this is the soundtrack. 

Yodh

Frostnatt - Den Russiske Tomheten (2020)

 

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It's been a while. It's also been snowing like fucking crazy. Keeping us locked in the house until there's enough time to shovel out the cars in preperation of work the next day. The domestic life is bittersweet. I've been listening to this on cold, snowy nights. It warms my chilled heart. Give it a shot, and if you like it, buy a copy.

Den Russiske Tomheten

Lord Almighty - Wither (2020)

 

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Boston quartet Lord Almighty has one goal, and that is to smash your face in, 11 times. Wither proves this possible with every listen. This record has a fresh sound that ebbs and flows with the heavy and loose, and the quiet and beautiful. Standout for me is definitely the title track and it's incredible finish. These guys also have a great sense of humor. Give them the thumbs up or whatever the fuck is the flavor this week. I can't help but to like these guys. This effort makes me think back to my cool ass uncle Danny and how we used to headbang in his kitchen super late on a school night. Every listen makes me think of him. Get this shit, spin this shit, dig this shit. 

Wither

End of Mankind - Antérieur à la lumière (2020)

 

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End of Mankind fits the theme for the last 12 months. This is their 2nd release inside of a single year. Last year saw their debut release, but due to shutdowns they were forced to quarantine. Instead of moping, they used the time to record the sophomore effort and jam all their frustrations into a fantastic follow-up. This is a solid set, showing growth and maturity, and a bit of experimenting as well. I don't want to ruin the experience, but I will say that I was pleasantly surprised. 

Antérieur à la lumière

Detritus - Narcissist (2019)

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The winter weather has started to really move in now. It's been dark and rainy and cold for almost 3 days straight. Detritus has been a good companion, with its brutally heavy guttural vocals, and vicious driving drum beats. It will definitely keep you awake during these ever-sooner darkening days. For best result, play at maximum volume, then turn it up some more. 

Narcissist

Drowning the Light - Cursed Below the Waves (2018)

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THIS RECORD IS FUCKING EPIC - I've been into this album quite a bit these days. With the weather warming up, all I can think about is the ocean. 

Cursed Below the Waves

Æternum Infinitus ‎– .​-​. . .​-​-​. . .​-​.​. .​-​.​. .- -. - / Repellent (2018)

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Heavy drones and aggressive blown-out vocals. I would suggest wearing a decent pair of over-the-ear headphones and burning a jay before taking this trip. It's a deep one.

.​-​. . .​-​-​. . .​-​.​. .​-​.​. .- -. - / Repellent

Boreal - Battle of VOSAD (2020)

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This is a re-recorded version of the 2006 album of the same name. It's 39 minutes of brutal buzzing or like my buddy James says, it sounds like a box full of bees. However, it's clear enough to follow the changes and engage the listener. It's early summer and full-on plague status. I'm sure most of you are doing the stay-at-home gig like me until we know what in the actual fuck is happening. Why not spin this ever-darkening masterpiece while you pace the living room.

Battle of VOSAD