deathinaugust

 Forgotten Tomb managed to take his band beyond Italian borders without softening his music, thus brightening the Italian Metal image abroad.

 The title track is the most successful episode, one of the best songs of the whole career of Forgotten Tomb.

Obscura Arcana Mortis, Forgotten Tomb’s debut, showcases Herr Morbid’s technical skill and a Nordic-influenced black metal style. While it may lack emotional depth, the album stands as a significant milestone for Italian extreme metal. The production is clean and professional, and the title track highlights the band’s potential for future evolution. Although not a masterpiece, the album is a strong, well-crafted debut with lasting impact. Explore Forgotten Tomb’s early black metal legacy — listen to Obscura Arcana Mortis now!

 "Here, it is not Ireland being celebrated, but the Irish: humble and proud people who fight not so much for their country’s resurgence as for something to eat at the end of the day."

 "The bards who once sang the tales of heroes and gods now narrate the end of the world, of what has been lost and will never return."

Primordial's album 'The Gathering Wilderness' presents a powerful exploration of Irish history and the suffering of its people through epic and progressive metal. The music balances majestic, epic moments with introspective and personal touches, featuring subtle folk influences without becoming folk music. Alan Nemtheanga's vocal performance is outstanding and reminiscent of great metal vocalists. The album deeply conveys themes of exclusion, loneliness, and the harsh realities faced by ordinary Irish people in the past. Discover the epic Irish journey and heartfelt metal of Primordial's 'The Gathering Wilderness'—listen now and feel the power of history in music.

 I would define the music of Vordven as “twilight”; always balancing between light and dark, capturing the brightness of the former and the macabre romanticism of the latter.

 The attitude of Vordven - always a Black Metal band - stands out, capable of beautifully not caring about evil, delivering moments of sublime Beauty, almost rural in its naivety.

Vordven's Woodland Passage EP showcases a unique Finnish black metal style that blends melodic, symphonic, and fantasy elements. Despite limited success in a harsh black metal scene, the band offers a mature, atmospheric sound with detailed arrangements. The EP balances light and dark themes, avoiding typical genre extremes. It represents a compelling yet overlooked contribution to the genre's diversity. Discover the enchanting twilight world of Vordven's Woodland Passage—listen now and explore a unique side of Finnish black metal.

 Lurker Of Chalice is the musical memory of the most decadent that has been produced in recent decades, revisited, corrected, distorted. Unique.

 The compositional milestone of the album is the final song, “Fastened To The Five Points”: a Funeral track, with an uncommon melodic taste.

Lurker Of Chalice's self-titled album is a disorienting and ambitious work that transcends depressive black metal boundaries by blending ambient, doom, and electronic elements. Wrest, known from Leviathan and Twilight, creates a layered, experimental sound divided into three cohesive parts that explore despair and nihilism with unique musical textures. The album balances raw black metal influences with melodic, avant-garde, and surreal moments, establishing itself as a dark masterpiece. Released by THR and reprinted by Southern Lord, the album remains essential for fans seeking depth and innovation. Dive into the haunting depths of Lurker Of Chalice – listen now and experience a unique blend of depressive black metal and experimental soundscapes.

 "Abruptum don’t play music. It would be unfair to say so. They create experiences."

 "The album exudes despair from every pore. And this is its advantage over the successor, where the same sonic exploration leads to a faded result."

Abruptum's album Obscuritatem Advoco Amplectere Me embodies the raw, experimental spirit of black metal fused with ambient and noise elements. The album features two long tracks that reject traditional song structures in favor of emotional expression through distorted soundscapes. While highly original and coherent, the repetition between the two tracks suggests a missed opportunity to further evolve their sound. Nonetheless, the album is considered a significant and sincere work in underground extreme music. Dive into Abruptum’s dark atmospheric world and experience a groundbreaking black metal experiment today.

 Dani Filth is consistently over the top in this release, in a continual delusion of grandeur that will lead him to ruin what his bandmates accomplish.

 'Cruelty And The Beast' is not the album that definitively takes the band away from the Black Metal of their origins; it is a coherent path that evolved their original sound.

Released in 1998, 'Cruelty And The Beast' marks an evolution for Cradle Of Filth, blending black metal roots with gothic and thrash influences. The album showcases complex compositions and strong literary lyrics. However, Dani Filth's overbearing vocal delivery detracts from the music's atmosphere. While the first tracks stand out, the album's quality declines, making it a mixed but interesting effort within the band's discography. Discover the gothic depths and complex metal of Cradle Of Filth's 'Cruelty And The Beast'—read the full review and listen now!

 If it’s bad, it’s just bad, with no escape.

 It feels like facing the discographic version of the Maurizio Costanzo Show, with all the prejudices, ideological errors.

This review critically examines the 2002 double CD compilation 'Lords Of Chaos: Die Geschichte der Okkulten Musik,' intended as a musical companion to a cult book. While its ambitious chronological scope and selection are notable, the reviewer finds both the concept and music lacking. The collection falls into clichéd and ideological pitfalls, especially regarding the Norwegian black metal scene, ultimately failing to capture the depth or authenticity suggested by the title. Discover the dark history of occult music—but beware the clichés and myths in this extensive Lords Of Chaos anthology.

 Only "Embraced To Cosmic Infinity" and "Transfiguration Of The Triarchy" awaken the sleepy listener.

 A real shame. The talent is there. We will see what they do in the future.

Enthroning Silence’s debut album receives a balanced critique highlighting strong influences from Burzum and concept ambition but suffers from routine execution and lack of originality. The lyrics are heavy-handed, and the production flattens the album’s potential. Only a couple of tracks stand out amid the otherwise uninspiring record. The review notes promise in talent but calls for more maturity and uniqueness in future works. Explore Enthroning Silence’s debut and judge their dark, esoteric black metal journey yourself.

 The Black House is a work where unease is generated by silence, by what is unsaid, by constant omission.

 Imperial’s voice amazes amidst desperate screams, reminiscent of the pain of Abruptum, as if the House itself is replaying its grim scene years later.

The Black House by Krieg is a deeply atmospheric black metal album that evokes childhood fears and raw emotions. Inspired by Darkthrone and other pioneers, it balances fast tempos with moments of melodic pain. The absence of lyrics and clear explanations creates an unsettling, immersive experience. Notable is Imperial's expressive vocal range, and the album's evocative artwork breaks from black metal stereotypes. Considered a high point in black metal, it deserves more recognition. Dive into Krieg's The Black House and experience one of black metal’s most haunting and emotional journeys.

 IX Equilibrium is a truly difficult album: Emperor is the only Black Metal band that has gained an ever-growing audience by constantly intensifying their sound.

 The sound of IX Equilibrium is the child of a grand and majestic, mad and regal imagination.

IX Equilibrium sees Emperor refining and intensifying their black metal style beyond previous works. The album is characterized by fast rhythms, technical riffs, and an epic atmosphere with electronic elements. While its complexity and frenzy make it demanding to listen to, the band’s musical maturity and compositional skills shine through. Despite occasional moments that feel routine, the album marks a consistent and innovative path for the band. Discover Emperor’s IX Equilibrium—dive into an intense, technical black metal journey now!