Tales From The Underground
Tales From The Underground
Artist: Deathspell OmegaCountry: SwedenLabel: Norma Evangelium DiaboliFormats: LP / CDYear: 2022 You can safely say that Deathspell Omega is one of the most prolific bands in the current Black Metal scene. Initially releasing more standard, but very good, Black Metal…
Artist: Dark FuneralCountry: SwedenLabel: Century MediaFormats: LP / CDYear: 2022 What is the point in introducing Dark Funeral? No, there is none. A band that has drawn as much praise as it received rejection. Rejection because the band isn’t matching…
Artist: Black Fucking CancerCountry: USALabel: Sentient Ruin LaboratoriesFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2022 After having released their debut album in 2016 through Osmose Productions, this subtly named power trio from California found a new home at Sentient Ruin…
Artist: Supremative Country: Spain Label: Crimson Tide Productions Formats: LP Year: 2022 Although I already picked up the reissue of Supremative’s first demo on 7”, which was released by Blood Harvest Records back in 2016, I still had to check…
Artist: AcheronCountry: USALabel: Funeral Industries / VIC RecordsFormats: 12″ EP / CD EP Year: 2022 There aren’t many American Death Metal bands about which opinions are as divided as Acheron. There’s a lot of haters and a lot of fans.…
Artist: VampireaCountry: BrazilLabel: Depressive Illusions Records / Floppy Tales RecordsFormats: Cassette EPYear: 2022 Obscurity is the keyword here. Vampirea Spawned out of the mind of its sole member (Giuliano Paulin). Started in 2022 and presenting its first self-titled 3-track demo…
Artist: Mayhem Country: Norway Label: Century Media Formats: 12″ EP / CD EP Year: 2021 Mayhem’s latest two albums, ‘Esoteric Warfare’ from 2014 and the latest, ‘Daemon’ from 2019, have divided fans and admirers. Both records are far from easy-listening…
Artist: Midnight Country: USA Label: Metal Blade Records Formats: LP / CD Year: 2022 Much has changed since the inception of Midnight. Going from a side-project that was initially only releasing (split) EP’s through various underground labels, Midnight went to…
Artist: Nidernes Country: Portugal Label: Black Gangrene Productions Formats: LP / Cassette Tape / CD Year: 2022 When it comes to Black Metal, Portugal has never been much of a fertile breeding ground. Apart from bands like (very) early Moonspell…
Artist: Embrace Of ThornsCountry: GreeceLabel: Iron Bonehead ProductionsFormats: 7″ EPYear: 2022 Quite out of the blue comes this nice 7” EP from these Greek veterans with a career spanning over two decades already. During this long career they have delivered…
Artist: DoodswensCountry: The NetherlandsLabel: Svart RecordsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2022 Anyone with a little interest in the Dutch Black Metal scene must have stumbled upon Doodswens at some point over the last past two years or so. But although it is rather unique to have…
Artist: YggCountry: UkraineLabel: Ashen Dominion / Darker Than Black RecordsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2020 Hailing from Kharkiv, Ukraine, Ygg shares not only their hometown with bands like Nokturnal Mortum or Drudkh, but also their musical roots. For a country of…
Artist: Moonlight Sorcery Country: Finland Label: Avantgarde Music Formats: 12″ EP / CD EP Year: 2022 At some point in the history of Black Metal it was something that was laughed at exclusively: melodic Black Metal, or symphonic Black Metal…
Artist: Yoth IriaCountry: GreeceLabel: Pagan RecordsFormats: LP / Cassette tape / CDYear: 2021 Though Yoth Iria introduced themselves with a great EP (released on 10” and 12” vinyl formats, as well as on CD and cassette) and a split 7”…
Artist: Nokturnal Mortum Country: Ukraine Label: Heritage Recordings / Oriana Music Formats: LP / CD Year: 2022 One of Ukranian most prolific bands will definitely be Nokturnal Mortum, with their folk-drenched black metal they are a strong influence on many…
Artist: Graveland Country: Poland Label: Forever Plagued Records / Inferna Profundus Records / The Oath / White Wolf Productions Formats: LP / CD Year: 2021 Unquestionably one of the most prolific bands in the Polish underground Black Metal scene is…
Artist: Funeral Mist Country: Sweden Label: Norma Evangelium Diaboli Formats: LP / CD Year: 2022 Like always is the case with Funeral Mist, all of a sudden there is a new album. I was pleasantly surprised by 2018’s ‘Hekatomb’-album, which…
Artist: Drowning The LightCountry: AustraliaLabel: Dark Adversary ProductionsFormats: CDYear: 2020 When all light is consumed, your soul is putrefying and only ghouls, specters and vampires are left to take over to feast upon your woefully existence, Drowning The Light’s Azgorh is there to compose yet…
Artist: Jumalhämärä Country: Finland Label: Ahdistuksen Aihio Productions Formats: CD Year: 2010 ‘Progression’ is a dirty word in combination with black metal. Bands like Satyricon have already struggled (unsuccessfully) with it. The art lies in combining primitive aesthetics and innovative…
Artist: Pantheon I Country: Norway Label: Candlelight records Formats: CD Year: 2009 Pantheon I was formed around 2002, and features some members of 1349, Den Saakaldte and Sarkom. Their fairly unique mix of Black Metal with cellos and violins caught my eye…
Artist: 1349Country: NorwayLabel: Candlelight RecordsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2009 The last few releases of the Norwegians of 1349 have been surrounded by a minor hype, and in particular for their last record ‘Hellfire’ that seemed to be justified. Not resting…
Artist: Motörpenis / Black Torment Country: Portugal / Mexico Label: Iron Bonehead Productions Formats: 7″ EP Year: 2009 This is the first release for Iron Bonehead Productions in 2009, a split record between Motörpenis from Portugal and Mexican Black Torment.…
Artist: Shackles Country: Australia Label: Hells Headbangers Records Formats: LP / CD Year: 2009 After releasing two demos (one being re-released on CD on Kneel Before The Masters Throne) and a 7” EP these Australians were ready for their first…
Artist: Graveland Country: Poland Label: No Colours Records Formats: 12″ EP Year: 2008 This one-sided 12” on Darkland Records can be seen as some sort of an appetizer of the new full-length, “Spears Of Heaven”, that was released in April…
Artist: Syphilitic Vaginas Country: Sweden Label: RFL Records Formats: 7″ EP Year: 2008 Syphilitic Vaginas have been releasing quite a pile of obscure vinyls and tapes over the last three-or-so years. And though it might come as they are from…
Artist: TangorodrimCountry: IsraelLabel: Doomentia Records / Southern Lord RecordsFormats: LPYear: 2007 The name of this extreme raw black metal outfit from Israel (though the members are from Russian origin) translates to “Mountains Of Oppression”, taken from JRR Tolkien’s Lord Of…
Artist: UngodCountry: GermanyLabel: Kneel Before The Master’s Throne RecordsFormats: 12″ EP / CD EPYear: 2008 Originally released as a mini CD and tape back in 1996 with rather ugly artwork, this EP got its re-release twelve years later on vinyl…
Artist: Nocturnal / Pagan Rites Country: Germany / Sweden Label: Hells Headbangers Records Formats: Split 7″ EP Year: 2008 This is, of course, one of those 7” EP’s that can’t be missed and is a definite must-have for anyone into…
Artist: Trench HellCountry: AustraliaLabel: Hells Headbangers Records / Home Taping CrueltiesFormats: 12″ EP / Cassette EP / CD EPYear: 2008 After the great “Alcoholic Disaster” EP from four years back, these Australians are back with a 12” consisting of six ultra…
Artist: Bestial Summoning / HereticCountry: The NetherlandsLabel: Deathstrike RecordsFormats: Split 12″ EP Year: 2008 The Dutch underground black metal scene, as with any other country, has had its ups and downs over the last two decades. Some bands seems to…
Artist: DarkthroneCountry: NorwayLabel: Peaceville RecordsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2008 After the last Darkthrone album many of their early fans dropped off, saying that this is punk and has nothing to do with metal anymore. That may be, but didn’t Darkthrone…
Enslaved has never been the band to stand still in their development, and with the newest album “Vertebrae” they have just released their best album to date. Plenty of reasons to discuss the outcome of the latest album with founding…
Artist: CobaltCountry: USALabel: Profound Lore RecordsFormats: CD EPYear: 2008 Last year’s “Eater Of Birds”-album was very well received by press and public alike, and was pretty much a surprise to both parties. The well crafted black metal fits well in…
Trinacria from Norway is a new band that was founded by Enslaved mastermind Ivar Bjørnson and Fe-Mail members Hild Sofie Tafjord and Maja S. K. Ratkje seemingly with the aim of creating some unsettling, unorthodox and wildy frantic Black Metal.…
Artist: Trinacria – Travel Now Journey InfinitelyCountry: Chile / GermanyLabel: Indie RecordingsFormats: CDYear: 2008 What do you get when you put three members of Enslaved in the same room with people from a noise band and various other projects? A…
Artist: Jumalhämärä Country: Finland Label: Hammer Of Hate Records Formats: LP / CD EP Year: 2007 This band with its unpronounceable name (for non-Finnish people though) from Finland has been moving through the underground pretty much unnoticed. Which is actually…
After a very prolific year, unleashing no less than 3 releases upon mankind, it was about time to again catch up with Ragnar (R.U.) again. This second interview goes into all three of those recent releases, the involved labels as…
Artist: Sworn Country: Norway Label: Twilight Vertrieb Formats: CD Year: 2007 This melodic black metal band is from Norway’s second city, Bergen, a region that brought us bands like Immortal, Burzum, Gorgoroth and the famous composer Edvard Grieg. Yet, Sworn…
Artist: Malfeitor Country: Italy Label: Scarlet Records Formats: CD Year: 2007 Malfeitor is the brainchild of M. Fabban who has been a member of the industrialized black metal band Aborym for many years. Aborym changed quite a bit over the…
Artist: DesasterCountry: GermanyLabel: Iron Pegasus Records / Metal Blade RecordsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2007 Though they are certainly some kind of worship/’tribute to the gods’ band, Desaster is, in the meantime, one of the longest running German thrash bands. It…
Artist: Bone AwlCountry: CanadaLabel: Nuclear War Now! ProductionsFormats: 7″ EPYear: 2007 This American band is veiled in mysticism, as there is hardly any information available on them. Yet, from the very start there has been a constant flow of releases,…
Artist: Bestial RaidsCountry: PolandLabel: Bird Of Ill Omen Recordings / Nuclear War Now! ProductionsFormats: 7″ EPYear: 2007 Bestial Raids from Poland are not a very exceptional band in terms of a ‘black metal career’. They have released a couple of…
Artist: UlfsdalirCountry: GermanyLabel: Ash Nazg / Dunkelwald Productions / Heretic Wisdom ProductionsFormats: CDYear: 2007 This is already the third release of this German black metal collective in 2007. This is one is the last in a row of releases, preceded…
Artist: BlaspherianCountry: USALabel: Blood Harvest Formats: 12″ EPYear: 2007 Though not really a well-known band (yet) they get their stuff released by labels as Hell’s Headbangers and Blood Harvest Records. That is what I call an achievement, as these two…
Artist: Ulfsdalir / ThrondtCountry: GermanyLabel: Ash NazgFormats: Split CDYear: 2007 A split CD from two bands hailing from the same scene, from the Kassel-area from which quite a lot of band/projects/labels etc. are. This is such a collaboration that definitely…
Artist: In Aeternum Country: Sweden Label: Blood Harvest / Pulverised Records Formats: 7″ EP / CD EP Year: 2007 With varying succes Swedish band In Aeternum have spawned records on mankind, through various labels and with an ever changing line-up.…
Artist: Striborg Country: Australia Label: Displeased Records Formats: CD Year: 2007 Although the cover looks pretty nice the music is hard to describe, and it is even harder to come up with a decent review and some positive remarks as…
Artist: Striborg Country: Australia Label: Displeased Records Formats: CD Year: 2007 Though quality labels like Southern Lord keep licensing Striborg releases for whatever other editions I still don’t get the buzz around this one-man project from Australia. I have to…
Artist: Nocturnal Vomit / Bestial RaidsCountry: Greece / PolandLabel: Morbid Moon RecordsFormats: Split 7″ EPYear: 2006 Underground force Morbid Moon Records comes forth with a great split 7” EP featuring two of the best underground metal acts of today, Greek…
Artist: Krater Country: Germany Label: Christhunt Productions Formats: CD Year: 2006 I remember getting mailed by Abortio from Krater a few years ago, trying to sell one of his first releases. I do not recall whether it was a demo…