Owl – Owl Review
Owl is the latest project to emerge from the ever productive and continually brilliant German label (and family of bands) Zeitgeister. This particular project is the brainchild of Christian Kolf (Island, Valborg, Woburn House), who …
Kampfar – Mare Review
Longstanding Norwegian pagan/black metallers Kampfar seem perpetually and uncomfortably wedged between the general ignorance of the greater metal populace and the constant fawning of a small but very dedicated fanbase. In that way they’re simultaneously …
Negura Bunget – Poarta De Dincolo Review
So, as it turns out, all that worrying was largely for naught. After the bickering between the Negru and Sol Fraur / Hupogrammos camps, the former’s continuation of the Negura Bunget name (more a brand …
Vreid – V Review
Round about a decade or so ago a boldly-titled comp called True Kings of Norway was released on Spikefarm Records. Featured were embryonic early works by Emperor, Immortal, Arcturus, Dimmu Borgir, and Ancient, obviously slapped …
Darkest Era – The Last Caress Of Light Review
Sometimes being a little derivative on the surface is a good thing. It certainly helped the cause of Darkest Era, a newish act out of Northern Ireland presenting in their full-length debut The Last Caress Of …
Havok – Time Is Up Review
As the so-called “thrash revival” begins to recede over the horizon, we can start to notice the cream bands of the crop rising to the top. One such act is Denver’s Havok, who with 2009’s …
Saille – Irreversible Decay Review
It is no small secret that symphonic black metal has been in a lull for several years now. Really, calling it a lull is far too nice. A more accurate statement would be to say …
Ghamorean – Terra Ruina Review
Now just where the hell did this come from? That was my thought as the grandiose, semi-overture-styled intro of “Towards Pandemonium” crashed out of my speakers. After all, Sweden’s Ghamorean isn’t exactly new on the …