Hats Barn – Y.a.HW.e.H

Artist: Hats Barn Country: France Label: Osmose Productions Formats: LP / CD Year: 2022 Although they have been around for 17 years now, it could very well be that the Black Metallers of Hats Barn from Lille, France, is a…

Morrigan – Anwynn

Artist: Morrigan Country: Germany Label: Werewolf Records Formats: LP / CD Year: 2022 By the turn of the century, the German (cult) metal band Mayhemic Truth folded and out of its ashes rose Morrigan. It depends on what source you…

Nattehimmel – The Night Sky Beckons [Demo]

Artist: Nattehimmel Country: Norway Label: Hammerheart Records Formats: Demo tape Year: 2022 Although Nattehimmel is a new band, none of its members are newbees, so to speak. Both Botteri brothers are involved, both were co-founders of In The Woods… and…

Lord Belial – Rapture

Artist: Lord BelialCountry: SwedenLabel: Hammerheart RecordsFormats: LP / CDYear: 2022 A somewhat unexpected return. After no less than fourteen years Swedish Lord Belial is back with a new album. With this year marking their 30th anniversary (though quiting and reforming…

Sarvekas – Of Atavistic Fury and Visions

Artist: SarvekasCountry: FinlandLabel: Soulseller RecordsFormats: 12″ EP / CD EPYear: 2020 AA and JL formed Sarvekas in late 2018 and at the dusk of 2020 their first EP release ‘Of Atavistic Fury and Visions’ saw the light through the Dutch…

Khold – Svartsyn

Artist: Khold Country: Norway Label: Soulseller Records Formats: LP / CD Year: 2022 It is strange how some things get into a certain position or context without a logical reason or string of events. Like these Norwegian Black Metallers Khold,…

Fides Inversa – Historia Nocturna

Artist: Fides InversaCountry: ItalyLabel: World Terror CommitteeFormats: LP / CDYear: 2020 The Italian Black Metal band Fides Inversa doesn’t exactly work at a high pace, but they have consistently improved their craft since the formation in 2006. Their first album…

Deathspell Omega – The Long Defeat

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…

Dark Funeral – We Are the Apocalypse

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…

Black Fucking Cancer – Procreate Inverse

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…

Supremative – Goat Blood Communion

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…

Acheron – Satanic Victory [EP / Reissue]

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.…

Vampirea – Vampirea [EP]

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…

Mayhem – Atavistic Black Disorder / Kommando [EP]

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…

Midnight – Let There Be Witchery

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…

Nidernes – Beyond The Gleam Of Nightsky

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…

Embrace Of Thorns – The Pantheon I [EP]

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…

Doodswens – Lichtvrees

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…

Ygg – The Last Scald

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…

Yoth Iria – As the Flame Withers

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”…

Graveland – Hour Of Ragnarok

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…

Funeral Mist – Deiform

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…

Drowning The Light – On Astral Wings Of Wamphyric Shadows

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…

Jumalhämärä – Resignaatio

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…

Pantheon I – Worlds I Create

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…

1349 – Revelations of the Black Flame

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…

Shackles – Traitors’ Gate

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…

Graveland – Wotan Mit Mir [EP]

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…

Syphilitic Vaginas – Black Motor Covenant [EP]

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…

Tangorodrim – Justus Ex Fide Vivit

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…

Trench Hell – Southern Cross Ripper [EP]

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…

Darkthrone – Dark Thrones And Black Flags

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…

Cobalt – Landfill Breastmilk Beast [EP]

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 – Travel Now Journey Infinitely

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…

Jumalhämärä – Slaughter The Messenger [EP]

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…

Sworn – The Alleviation

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…

Malfeitor – Unio Mystica Maxima

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…

Desaster – 666: Satan’s Soldiers Syndicate

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…

Bone Awl – Undying Glare [EP]

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,…

Bestial Raids – Order Of Doom [Demo / Reissue]

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…