Kvad – Invocations [EP]

Artist: KvadCountry: NorwayLabel: Self-releasedFormats: Digital EPYear: 2022 The debut album ‘Cold & Dark, As Life’, released on cassette via Forbidden Keep Records, was my first introduction to the Norwegian Black Metal band Kvad. The album brought an interesting mix of…

Funeral – Llamada Funebre

Artist: Funeral Country: Chile Label: Burning Coffin Records Formats: Cassette Year: 2022 Although I don’t know exactly how old this Chilean Black Metal band is, I always wonder how it is possible that the creative minds of musicians can’t come…

Norfulthing – Norfulthing [Demo]

Artist: Norfulthing Country: Finland Label: Frozen Screams Imprint Formats: Demo Tape Year: 2022 Helsinki based Death Metal band Norfulthing released two digital single tracks before this same-titled full demo, of which the revenues are donated to a charity that focusses…

Exhumation – Twilight Of The Funebre Night [Demo]

Artist: ExhumationCountry: SpainLabel: Pesta Negra RecordsFormats: Demo tapeYear: 2022 For many listening to a Funeral Doom Metal record is, and fair enough, a gruelling ride; it may even seem a form of self-flagellation. To fully grasp the painfully slow music,…

Issolei – Cilicium

Artist: IssoleiCountry: NorwayLabel: Terratur PossessionsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2021 Unconventional was the term used earlier to describe pretty much everything about Issolei. Fascinating would be another. While the `Devouring Current’ EP’s spent a lot of time disorienting the listener, only…

Hekseblad – The White Flame [EP]

Artist: Hekseblad Country: USA Label: Self-Released Formats: Digital EP Year: 2022 With the Woods Of Ypres-tribute EP as some sort of an interlude, the American Black Metal duo continues with this 1-track EP/single where they left off: the musical narration…

Hekseblad – The Night Of The Long Fangs [Demo]

Artist: Hekseblad Country: USA Label: Self-Released Formats: Digital Demo Year: 2021 This is the first 1-track demo of this American Black Metal duo, consisting out of Frosk who is responsible for all instrumentation and Bruxa who contributes the vocals. When…

Hekseblad – The Fall Of Cintra [EP]

Artist: Hekseblad Country: USA Label: Fólkvangr Records / Grime Stone Records Formats: Cassette EP / CD EP Year: 2022 After a first 1-track demo, ‘The Night Of The Long Fangs’, the American duo of Hekseblad (which is actually Dutch for…

Kūka’ilimoku / Aarkanne – Ele’abyssus [Split LP]

Artist: Kūka’ilimoku / AarkanneCountry: USA / ChileLabel: Inferna Profundus RecordsFormats: Split LPYear: 2022 ‘Ele’abyssus’ is the title of a split LP between two rather stripped down Black Metal acts, Kūka’ilimoku from the USA and Aarkanne from Chile. Earlier releases by…

Klaaromtesterven – Pyschological Pain [Demo]

Artist: Klaaromstesterven Country: United Kingdom Label: Self-Released Formats: Digital demo Year: 2019 The Bandcamp-page of this one-man act says that it is from the UK, something I do not dispute, but judging from the Dutch band name it is a…

Stormkeep – Tales of Othertime

Artist: StormkeepCountry: USALabel: Ván RecordsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2021 In the wake of the popular `Galdrum’ EP, Stormkeep released their first full length album `Tales of Othertime’ in late 2021. Members from amongst others Wayfarer, Blood Incantation, Lord Dahthar and…

Watain – The Agony & Ecstasy Of Watain

Artist: WatainCountry: SwedenLabel: Chaos Reigns / Darkness Shall Rise Productions / His Master’s Noise / Nuclear Blast / Soyuz MusicFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2022 Originally released on April 29th, I am a little late with this review…

Mystic Circle – Mystic Circle

Artist: Mystic Circle Country: Germany Label: Atomic Fire / Chaos Reigns Formats: LP / CD Year: 2022 It sometimes happens that even though you think you are prepared for everything, life surprises you. Who, for example, was thinking of a…

Inferno – Paradeigma (Phosphenes of Aphotic Eternity)

Artist: InfernoCountry: Czech RepublicLabel: Bile Noire / Debemur Morti ProductionsFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2021 Those only familiar with the earliest Inferno albums might be surprised at how the band sounds anno 2021. The Czechs released numerous albums…

Diabolic Oath – Aischrolatreia [EP]

Artist: Diabolical OathCountry: USALabel: Sentient Ruin LaboratoriesFormats: 12″ EP / Cassette EP / CD EPYear: 2022 After Shroud Of The Heretic went on a indefinite hiatus by the end of the 10’s some members went on to form this Diabolic…

Anal Vomit – Into The Eternal Agony [Reissue]

Artist: Anal VomitCountry: PeruLabel: Black Legion RecordsFormats: Demo tapeYear: 2022 It was about 17 years ago when I reviewed Anal Vomit’s ‘Demonic Flagellations’ (From Beyond Productions) for VM-Underground’s predecessor and also conducted an interview with the band about these early…

Syning – Syning

Artist: SyningCountry: NorwayLabel: Cloven Hoof Brewing & Releasing / Terratur PossessionsFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2021 Syning is the union of members of some of the finest acts on the Terratur Possessions roster: V. Einrede of Whoredom Rife…

Kastijder – Kastijder [Demo]

Artist: KastijderCountry: The NetherlandsLabel: Dark Adversary Productions / New Era ProductionsFormats: 12″ Demo / Demo tape / Demo CDYear: 2021 The Dutch Black Metal scene is buzzing. After years where it was only a few bands like Countess, Funeral Winds,…

Imha Tarikat – Sternenberster

Artist: Imha TarikatCountry: GermanyLabel: Lupus Lounge / Prophecy ProductionsFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2020 Although the 2017 ‘Kenoboros’ 12″ EP on Terratur Possessions was well received amongst the followers of the flourishing Black Metal scene, I always kept…

Krushhammer – Blood, Violence & Blasphemy

Artist: Krushhammer Country: Brazil Label: Hellprod Records Formats: LP / CD Year: 2022 I do love the simple things in life. I am just fine when things are predictable. Admitted, I also like to have a musical surprise every now…

Destructo – Demonic Possession

Artist: DestructoCountry: The NetherlandsLabel: Dying Victims Productions / Wolves Of Hades RecordsFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2021 I don’t think I have to tell you that The Netherlands is a rather small country and its metal scene is…

Aargøn – Demo No. 1

Artist: AargønCountry: USALabel: Self-ReleasedFormats: Digital demoYear: 2022 This is another Black Metal project led by one individual and this one hails from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and released a two-track demo simply called ‘Demo No. 1’. It was Spotify that drew…

Aerdryk – Met de Drietand op Mijn Huid

Artist: AerdrykCountry: BelgiumLabel: Amor Fati ProductionsFormats: LPYear: 2022 With label releases AFP199 and AFP200, Amor Fati Productions pays homage to the rich history of the Belgian region of Flanders through the narrations told by the bands Oerheks (which my colleague…

Oerheks – Cagghenvinna [Demo]

Artist: OerheksCountry: BelgiumLabel: Amor Fati Productions / Babylon Doom Cult RecordsFormats: 12″ Demo / Demo tapeYear: 2022 This Belgian Black Metal act Oerheks is the brainchild of H (Hans Cools) who we also know from bands such as Hypothermia, Silver…

Frozen Blood – Revenge [Promo]

Artist: Frozen Blood Country: Chile Label: Self-Released Formats: Digital single Year: 2022 Frozen Blood is a new Old School Death Metal duo from Chile who will be releasing their debut demo tape by the end of this year through Diabolical…

Aarkanne – Revelatio

Artist: AarkanneCountry: ChileLabel: Self-ReleasedFormats: Digital EPYear: 2022 Aarkanne from Chile got a review here on VM-Underground for their full-length, ‘Mysterii’, that was released last year through Ars Negative on CD, Soul Reaper on cassette tape and on vinyl through Inferna…

Kūka’ilimoku – Pahu O Ka Ua

Artist: Kūkāʻilimoku Country: USALabel: Expansion AbyssFormats: CassetteYear: 2021 Kūka’ilimoku is the brainchild of Kūwāha’ilo, I am glad this is written media, because I wouldn’t know how to pronounce it exactly, but it’s probably related to the background of the musician,…

Svardenvyrd – Scarred Lands

Artist: Svardenvyrd Country: Czechia Label: Far Horizon Music Formats: Digital EP Year: 2021 Svardenvyrd’s origin dates back to as early as 2002 and already released two demo’s, a split CD and one album in the first half of the 00’s…

Spectral Wound – A Diabolic Thirst

Artist: Spectral WoundCountry: CanadaLabel: Les Fleurs du Mal Productions / Profound Lore RecordsFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2021 The star of Montréal’s Spectral Wound quickly rose after the release of their well-received sophomore album `Infernal Decadence’ and intense…

Ribspreader – Crypt World

Artist: Ribspreader Country: Sweden Label: Xtreem Music Formats: LP / Cassette Tape / CD Year: 2022 Writing an introduction to Ribspreader is actually not all that easy. There is a lot and at the very same time pretty little to…

Nightbearer – Ghosts Of A Darkness To Come

Artist: Nightbearer Country: Germany Label: Testimony Records Formats: LP / CD Year: 2022 Not too long ago a non-metal-listening friend of mine commented on the covers of metal LPs, according to him they were so much nicer and made with…

Lamentari – Clavis Aurea [EP]

Artist: Lamentari Country: Denmark Label: Over The Under Records Formats: 12″ EP Year: 2022 Formed in 2019, this Danish six-piece have already released two EP’s, both of which were released by the also Danish Over The Under Records. A professionally…

Xenomorph8472 – Rüstwelt

Artist: Xenomorph8472Country: USALabel: Self-releasedFormats: DigitalYear: 2022 Taoism teaches its followers to live in perfect harmony with the universe, live in peaceful friendship with both each fellow man and animal and practice patience, simplicity and balance in life. Not quite the…

Opus Magorum – Opus Magorum [Demo / Re-Release]

Artist: Opus Magorum Country: Greece Label: Inferna Profundus Records Formats: LP Year: 2022 This Greek Black Metal band Opus Magorum has been around for over 20 years with its formation in 2001. But don’t feel embarrassed if you haven’t heard…

Précieux Sang – Les Nuits de Gethsémani

Artist: Précieux SangCountry: CanadaLabel: EisenwaldFormats: LP / CDYear: 2022 The Black Metal scene in the Canadian province of Québec, often named Métal Noir Québécois after the first Forteresse album, has made a name for itself around the globe for producing numerous outstanding bands. While many…

Archgoat – All Christianity Ends [EP]

Artist: ArchgoatCountry: FinlandLabel: Debemur Morti ProductionsFormats: 12″ EP / Cassette EP / CD EPYear: 2022 In the review of `Worship the Eternal Darkness’ I mentioned how Archgoat sounds recognisable yet they have added slight touches to their sound over time.…

Archgoat – Worship the Eternal Darkness

Artist: ArchgoatCountry: FinlandLabel: Debemur Morti Productions / InCoffin ProductionsFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2021 Amidst a changing Black Metal landscape, there is one constant: Archgoat will always sound like Archgoat. They will play their brand of primitive Black…

Cianide – Rage War [Reissue]

Artist: CianideCountry: USALabel: Caustic CassetteFormats: Cassette tapeYear: 2022 American ultra-primitive Death Metal giants Cianide are set to release a new album somewhere in the upcoming months, but before that they reissue their 1996 ‘Rage War’-demo tape through Caustic Cassette. No…

Merciless Savagery – Demo 2020 [Demo]

Artist: Merciless Savagery Country: USA Label: Self-Released Formats: Digital Demo Year: 2022 In a male-dominated world it is always great to encounter an all-female metal band, especially when they sound as crude and savage as Merciless Savagery – a very…

Disfallen – The Echoing Despair [Demo]

Artist: DisfallenCountry: NorwayLabel: Self-ReleasedFormats: Digital demoYear: 2022 The genre of Doom/Death Metal has always been a bit of a niche in both the Death Metal and Doom Metal genres. It is not a genre that is played by many bands,…

Impure – Blasphemy [EP]

Artist: Impure Country: The Netherlands Label: Self-Released Formats: Digital EP Year: 2007 The young band Impure from Breda, The Netherlands, releases their first feat with this self-released EP With ‘Blasphemy’, the five-piece band presents itself as a Black/Death Metal band…

Spectral Knight – Awakening Of Barbarism [Demo]

Artist: Spectral Knight Country: Poland Label: Darkness Resurrection Productions Formats: Demo Tape Year: 2022 ‘Awakening Of Barbarism’ is the third release of this Polish one-man Black Metal act. All three are (rehearsal) demos, which means this one is also in…