Vengeance Sorcery – Betrothing Spirits At Nightfall

Artist: Vengeance SorceryCountry: USALabel: Nuclear War Now! ProductionsFormats: LPYear: 2022 Recently I dived into the four demo tapes of the illustrious duo of Vengeance Sorcery, going through many minutes of their quirky and captivating blend of Black Metal and Doom…

Vengeance Sorcery – Witchdance Rising [Demo / Re-Release]

Artist: Vengeance SorceryCountry: USALabel: Nuclear War Now! ProductionsFormats: Demo tapeYear: 2022 At the very beginning of this year Nuclear War Now! Productions reissued the first demo of American duo Vengeance Sorcery, that originally saw the dark of night in 2019…

Vintertodt – Under Endless Invented Night

Artist: VintertodtCountry: USALabel: Fólkvangr Records / Forest SummonerFormats: Cassette tape / CDYear: 2022 From New York, USA, hails the Black Metal band Vintertodt. Formed in 2018, the band soon recorded their first demo which was released in 2019. ‘Pure Fucking…

Old Castles – Sacrophagical Lament Of The Past

Artist: Old Castles Country: Chile Label: Inferna Profundus Records Formats: LP / CD Year: 2022 After no less than eight demos and a split release with Moon’s Veneris (yes, Moon’s Veneris, not Mons Veneris), and I am not even counting…

Katavasia – Invoking The Spirit Of Doom [EP]

Artist: Katavasia Country: Greece Label: Iron Bonehead Records Formats: 7″ EP Year: 2022 Katavasia was formed in 2014 by Varathron mastermind Stefanos ‘Necroabyssious’ Karasavvas, undoubtedly one of the founding fathers of the famous Hellenic Black Metal sound. And although not…

Nihilvm – Life​-​Death​-​Empty [EP]

Artist: NihilvmCountry: PolandLabel: Malignant VoicesFormats: CD EPYear: 2022 Poland’s Nihilvm was formed in 2020, but that’s about all the information that’s out there. Well, that and that the band was signed to the highly esteemed Malignant Voices label, which has…

Concrete Winds – Nerve Butcherer

Artist: Concrete WindsCountry: FinlandLabel: Sepulchral Voice RecordsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2021 At the end of last year Concrete Winds treated us to a new album of extreme violence. I can imagine that you are still recovering from 2019’s ‘Primitive Force’,…

Cantique Lépreux – Sectes

Artist: Cantique LépreuxCountry: CanadaLabel: EisenwaldFormats: 12″ EP / CD EPYear: 2022 Our loyal readers have already seen many a Canadian Black Metal release pass by, it is a scene that is developing rapidly and producing a good number of, often exceptionally good, acts. In particular,…

Meslamtaea – Weemoedsklanken

Artist: Meslamtaea Country: The Netherlands Label: Babylon Doom Cult Records Formats: LP / CD Year: 2022 Formed in 1998, Meslamtaea may be considered one of the longest-running Dutch Black Metal acts, but in that almost quarter-century of its existence, main…

Blood Of The Wolf – IV: The Declaration Of War Eternal

Artist: Blood Of The WolfCountry: USALabel: Horror Pain Gore Death ProductionsFormats: CDYear: 2022 The title of ‘IV: The Declaration Of War Eternal’ implies that there were (at least) three chapter preceding this latest album by American Death Metallers Blood Of The Wolf. And while I…

Helwetti – Demo Collection [Compilation]

Artist: HelwettiCountry: FinlandLabel: Northern Heritage RecordsFormats: CDYear: 2022 It was quite a surprise that 2021 saw the release of the debut album of the Finnish band Helwetti. Outside some involvement in (live) activities of the cult band Warloghe, the members…

Necromaniac – Morbid Metal [Demo / Re-Release]

Artist: Necromaniac Country: United Kingdom Label: Invictus Productions Formats: Demo Tape Year: 2021 Originally released in 2015 by Me Saco Un Ojo Records (and already reissued a year later) Invictus Productions thought it was about time to give this demo…

Herugrim – Demo XXMMII

Artist: HerugrimCountry: FinlandLabel: Escafismo RecordsFormats: Demo tapeYear: 2022 “This might be something for you to review”, said TWD’s own FelixS when he forwarded me the first demo of the Finnish band Herugrim. He’s right, if it’s Black Metal and comes…

Ateiggär – Tyrannemord

Artist: AteiggärCountry: SwitzerlandLabel: EisenwaldFormats: LP / CDYear: 2022 With the band’s first offering, the ‘Us d’r Höll Chunnt Nume Zyt’ EP from 2019, Switzerland’s Ateiggär surprised us with a fiery brand of Black Metal with its roots firmly in the Norwegian scene from the mid…

A Different Cloud – Sult

Artist: A Different CloudCountry: PolandLabel: Self-releasedFormats: DigitalYear: 2022 A Different Cloud is the solo project of the Polish artist Demian, but other than that not much is known about the band. What is known is that with ‘Sult’, the first…

Departure Chandelier – Dripping Papal Blood [Demo / Reissue]

Artist: Departure ChandelierCountry: CanadaLabel: Nuclear War Now! Productions / Obliteration RecordsFormats: 10″ EP / CD EPYear: 2022 Originally an independently released demo, ‘Dripping Papal Blood’ got a proper CD release earlier this year through USA’s top purveyors of all things…

Nyrak – Malvs

Artist: NyrakCountry: BelgiumLabel: Self-releasedFormats: CDYear: 2022 Featuring members that are involved in bands such as Gotmoor, Serpent’s Oath, Wound Collector and Scarificator, the Belgian band Nyrak formed in 2021. Within a year they were ready to release their first release,…

Abysmal Lord – Cathedral [EP]

Artist: Abysmal LordCountry: USALabel: Blackseed Productions / Serpents Head ReprisalFormats: 7″ EP, Cassette EPYear: 2020 In 2019 we at VM-Underground reviewed Abysmal Lord’s second album, ‘Exaltation Of The Infernal Cabal’ and claimed that the band was able to stand shoulder…

Mooncitadel – Onyx Castles and Silver Keys [EP]

Artist: MooncitadelCountry: FinlandLabel: Out Of The DungeonFormats: 12″ EP / CD EPYear: 2021 Quite soon after the release of their debut album ‘Night’s Scarlet Symphonies’, the Finnish Black Metal band Mooncitadel were ready to strike again with a new release.…

Mooncitadel – Night’s Scarlet Symphonies

Artist: MooncitadelCountry: FinlandLabel: Werewolf RecordsFormats: LPYear: 2020 The origins of Mooncitadel date back to 2007, when multi-intrumentalist and vocalist Stormheist formed the band Empire of Tharaphita. After two demos and a split with Drowning the Light, Stormheit decided to change…

Ritual Death – Ritual Death

Artist: Ritual DeathCountry: NorwayLabel: Shadow RecordsFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2022 The first years of Ritual Death were quite productive. The band was formed in 2016 as yet another product of the phenomenal Trondheim Black Metal scene by…

Daeva – Through Sheer Will And Black Magic…

Artist: DaevaCountry: USALabel: 20 Buck SpinFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2022 Back in 2019, our chief-editor reviewed Daeva’s first EP, and although he appreciated the offering, it wasn’t all too special for him. Now, a few years ahead…

Der Trauerschwan – Sanguinare Vampiris

Artist: Der TrauerschwanCountry: SwedenLabel: Soulseller RecordsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2022 When the Chilean band Hetroertzen relocated to the Swedish town of Västerås, they quickly recruited members from the local scene to complement their live line-up. One of the members that…

Deus Mortem – The Fiery Blood

Artist: Deus MortemCountry: PolandLabel: Malignant Voices / Terratur PossessionsFormats: 12″ EP / CD EPYear: 2020 Although both Malignant Voices and Terratur Possessions usually are pretty much the epitome of quality Black Metal, the Polish Deus Mortem had not quite fully…

Kawir – Nyxtos Teletisin [Compilation]

Artist: Kawir Country: Greece Label: Pagan Records Formats: LP / CD Year: 2022 When talking about Greek Black Metal, the conversations will most likely be first about Rotting Christ, Varathron, Septicflesh, Thou Art Lord and Necromantia, only then about the…

Adaestuo – Purge Of The Night Cloak [EP]

Artist: AdaestuoCountry: USALabel: W.T.C. ProductionsFormats: CD EPYear: 2022 Formed in 2014, this three-piece band with bandmembers living on different places on earth (Finland, Poland and the USA), surprised with their first EP in 2016 through W.T.C. Productions, which they followed…

Darvaza – Ascending Into Perdition

Artist: DarvazaCountry: Italy / NorwayLabel: Terratur PossessionsFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2022 Darvaza, formed back in 2015 by two elusive figures in the international Black Metal scene, released three critically acclaimed EP’s through Black Metal elitist label Terratur…

Helwetti – Helwetti

Artist: HelwettiCountry: FinlandLabel: Illuminating Void ProductionsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2021 Over the years, the Finnish Black Metal scene has created quite the name for itself, spreading their unique take on Black Metal to the far reaches of the world. However,…

Umbra Conscientia – Nigredine Mundi

Artist: Umbra ConscientiaCountry: Costa Rica / GermanyLabel: Cloven Hoof Brewing & Releasing / Terratur PossessionsFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2022 Somewhat out of the blue came this international combo of Umbra Conscientia, releasing their debut album by the…

Theriomorph – Diabolical Bloodswords

Artist: TheriomorphCountry: FinlandLabel: Terratur PossessionsFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2022 Finnish multi-instrumentalist Vainaya has been in several bands over the past two decades. Among them were underground stalwarts like Neutron Hammer and Horna, but he also had a…

Exordium Mors – As Legends Fade And Gods Die

Artist: Exordium MorsCountry: AustraliaLabel: Praetorian Sword RecordsFormats: LPYear: 2022 When New Zealand is mentioned many people think of those great mountain landscapes in which Peter Jackson filmed his Lord Of The Rings trilogy. But it also has a small but…

Jammerskrik – Innlemmet I M​ø​rke [Re-Release]

Artist: JammerskrikCountry: NorwayLabel: Nordkult Rituals / Terratur PossessionsFormats: LP / Cassette tapeYear: 2021 Anyone remotely interested in underground Black Metal must at least have stumbled once upon a band out of Norways Trondheim scene. They have been dominating the underground…

Akitsa – Haine Et Vengeance En Concert (Québec 2019)

Artist: AkitsaCountry: CanadaLabel: Tour De GardeFormats: Cassette TapeYear: 2023 Akitsa is one of the longest running Black Metal bands from Canada, already formed in 1999 they have released a commendably large discography. They have spawned six full-length albums and about…

Warloghe – Three Angled Void

Artist: WarlogheCountry: FinlandLabel: Northern Heritage RecordsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2022 Warloghe, whose name can be interpreted in several ways as an oathbreaker, is what you could call one of the cult bands that spawned in the blossoming Finnish Black Metal…

Ruach Raah – Marquise Of Serpents [Demo / EP]

Artist: Ruach Raah Country: Portugal Label: Signal Rex Formats: Cassette EP Year: 2022 Ruach Raah, which translates to something ‘Spirit Of Evil’ from Hebrew, has been around for about a decade now and continues to release their stripped down Black…

Triumphal Vengeance – Atavistic Darkness [EP]

Artist: Triumphal VengeanceCountry: Chile / GermanyLabel: Born For Burning Productions / Urtod VoidFormats: Cassette EPYear: 2022 This new one-man act, founded by an anonymous figure who goes under the name of Nebel, has its roots in Chile but now operates…

Corpus Christii – The Bitter End Of Old

Artist: Corpus ChristiiCountry: PortugalLabel: Immortal Frost ProductionsFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2022 One of the longest running and active Black Metal acts from Portugal is Corpus Christii. Their almost quarter century in the Black Metal scene has taken…

Maliënkolder – Maliënkolder [Demo]

Artist: Maliënkolder Country: The Netherlands Label: Self-Released Formats: Digital Demo Year: 2022 Maliënkolder, Dutch for habergeon, is a new band from The Netherlands, formed by a duo that goes under the names of Knevelaer and Geerling. I am not sure…

Hell Wehrwolf – Under Moon [Demo]

Artist: Hell Wehrwolf Country: Russia Label: Self-Released Formats: Digital Demo Year: 2022 ‘Under Moon’ is no less than the 14th demo from this Russian Raw Black Metal act. They also released a digital split with Kёtkh Trёamёrh, Hlidskjalf and Волот…

Walghinge – Primordiaal Verlangen

Artist: WalghingeCountry: BelgiumLabel: GramschapFormats: Cassette tapeYear: 2022 That Belgian Black Metal is on the rise should be obvious. Our loyal readers have seen several highlights pass by in recent months/years, we were treated to fantastic releases by bands such as…

Licht Des Urteils – Uhraamo

Artist: Licht Des UrteilsCountry: FinlandLabel: Purity Through FireFormats: LP / CDYear: 2022 From Tampere, Finland hails the five-piece of Licht Des Urteils. The band was formed in 2018 and quickly released a self-titled demo in 2019, before starting to work…

Mara – Loka M​æ​r [EP]

Artist: Mara Country: Sweden Label: Immortal Frost Productions Formats: 12″ EP / CD EP Year: 2022 Formed in 2010, the Swedish Black Metal band Mara has already released three full-length albums prior this EP, released earlier year through Belgian Immortal…

Grieve – Funeral

Artist: GrieveCountry: FinlandLabel: Werewolf RecordsFormats: CDYear: 2022 Grieve from Finland led a short but sweet life. After their formation in 2019, the four-piece released their first EP, a self-titled two-track recording (four if you include the vinyl bonus tracks) that…

Darkest Mind – Oracle Of Death

Artist: Darkest MindCountry: BelgiumLabel: Immortal Frost ProductionsFormats: CDYear: 2021 This Belgian Black Metal band consists out of three more or less seasoned musicians who also have had some experience in various other Belgian (Black) Metal bands such as Gotmoor, Theudo,…

Trinitas – Total Heresy

Artist: TrinitasCountry: Germany / SwedenLabel: Ván RecordsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2022 When I first stumbled upon the band Trinitas in a playlist, I just played the track, enjoyed what I superficially heard and added it to my list of albums to…

Angra Mainyu – Ashera Triumphant [EP]

Artist: Angra MainyuCountry: SwedenLabel: Self-ReleasedFormats: Digital EPYear: 2022 The story of the Black Metal band Angra Mainyu from Sweden goes way back to the early 90’s, when they were around under the name of Ahriman. Ahriman was an ancient Persian…

Darkwoods My Betrothed – Angel Of Carnage Unleashed

Artist: Darkwoods My BetrothedCountry: FinlandLabel: Napalm RecordsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2021 Although Darkwoods My Betrothed was one of the very first Finnish Black Metal bands, with their roots in the first half of the 90’s, first under the beautiful name…

Meyhnach – Miseria De Profundis

Artist: Meyhnach Country: France Label: Osmose Productions Formats: LP Year: 2022 One of the most appealing and leading figures of the French Black Metal scene is undoubtedly Meyhnach (although I think his mother prefers to call him William). With his…