Elite – Kampen
This is Norwegian black metal. Elite is a new band, formed in 2001, playing an old style. There are many bands playing nostalgic black metal and a few that play it extremely well. From the opening...
View ArticleImpiety – Paramount Evil
The artwork change for Singapore’s black thrash band Impiety demonstrates a renewed desire to enflame the general public. Piles of corpses from concentration camps adorn the cover and the cd. The...
View ArticleCharnel Valley – The Dark Archives
The measuring stick for mediocrity has just gotten a little shorter. Charnel Valley has released their opening salvo in what promises to be a short career. Once you get past the lame amateurish cover...
View ArticleSkyforger – Kauja Pie Saules
Finally a re-issue from Paragon Records that’s a worthwhile release (sorry, the Rigor Sardonicus and Black Crucifixion releases didn’t cut it for me). Originally released in 1998 on Mascot Records,...
View ArticleVorkuta – Into the Chasms Of Lunacy
While being interestingly named, Hungary’s Vorkuta (named after a city where a major Gulag labor camp was based during Stalin’s years and where thousands of political prisoners died or disappeared) is...
View ArticleCharnel Valley – The Igneous Race
So here is the second (not including their 3 way split) release from metal and magazine entrepreneur Marty Rytkonen (Wormgear) and fellow Metal Maniacs scribe S Craig Zahler, and I’ll admit their first...
View ArticleDimentianon – Hossanas Novus Ordo Seclurum
While I’m not totally loving Dimentianon’s (formerly known as The Forgotten) form of chaotic, garage blackened death metal, I can appreciate its DIY delivery and primal intensity for what it is. This...
View ArticleAetherius Obscuritas – Víziók
Hailing from Hungary, Aetherius Obscuritas is a prolific (4 albums since 2004) one man black metal project that does a little more than the usual Burzum worshipping woe is me, moping in self despair...
View ArticleCelestia – Frigidiis Apotheosia : Abstinencia Genesiis
This slipcased cd comes carefully crafted in an artful package courtesy of Paragon Records and France’s own melancholic misanthrope, Noktu, of Celestia. Celestia released their first official release a...
View ArticleRigor Sardonicus – Vallis Ex Umbra de Mortuus
If Joe J. Fogarazzo were to walk into a headhunter’s office one day in search of a job, the agent would likely ask what his skills and qualifications are. And he would be able to list off his audio...
View ArticleCopremesis – Muay Thai Ladyboys
First off, I will not mention that guitarist/vocalist Paulo posts on a message board I frequent (damn). Second off, I have to say that the artwork for Muay Thai Ladyboys by Scott Porterfield, is...
View ArticleAnael Sign to Paragon Records
Paragon Records is proud to announce the signing and the release of the latest album of Germany’s Anael, entitled From Arcane Fires. Anael have released two prior albums on the Barbarian Wrath label,...
View ArticleKhors sign with Paragon Records
Paragon Records are proud to announce the signing of Ukrainian Dark Metal band Khors. Formed by former Astrofaes bassist, Khorus, and later joined by Helg (Runes Of Dianecht) and Khaoth (Tessaract,...
View ArticleAnael – From Arcane Fires
Those out there into pre-93 black metal take note of Germany’s Anael, if you have not already for shame. Anael is a relatively new band that formed about a decade ago that I have been enjoying since...
View ArticleKhors – Mysticism
Being a Hate Forest, Astrofaes, Nokturnal Mortum, Lucifugum, fan made it an obvious leap to Khors. Mysticism is now the third Khors album I have been on board for, and as it turns out, they have only...
View ArticleDark Celebration – Phlegeton: The Transcendence of Demon Lords
What to make of Brazil’s Dark Celebration and its sophomore full-length, Phlegeton: The Transcendence of Demon Lords; that is indeed the question. It’s actually not that complicated. First and...
View ArticleFaust – From Glory to Infinity
Italy’s Faust brought in the big dogs for the recording of From Glory to Infinity. Luckily, the musical aspects of said disc far exceed the visual ones (i.e. the cartoon cover of the amply bosomed...
View ArticleAldaaron – Nous Reviendrons Immortels
I’ve been on a bit of a black metal kick of late, jamming the likes of Carach Angren, Unholy Ritual, Oblomov, Lux Divina and other more amicable, often symphonic versions of black metal. And while...
View ArticleDimentianon – Collapse the Void
Saw this New York-based black/death band in the writers’ backlog here at TOTD, so I decided to check out their Myspace. Liked what I heard (from their ‘05 split with funeral doom act Rigor Sardonicus,...
View Article
