Country:

Label: Independent

Review by JH

As of late, there has been a renaissance in the 90’s Greek black metal sound, with many bands emerging and putting out quality music that pays tribute to bands like Varathron, Necromantia and Rotting Christ.
Synteleia from Athens is no exception to the rule as they seem to wear their influences on their sleeves; evoking the spirit of the old Greek sound in absolute fine splendor. Astral Blasphemies is their debut effort; a four-track rehearsal demo released on a limited …

Country:

Label: Caligari Records

Review by JH

I think one of the most gratifying aspects of doing reviews is the fact that you tend to discover cool shit ― which in this case, brings us to Cioran. Released on cassette by Caligari Records, these Italians came as a rather nice surprise, since I had never heard of them before.
Bestiale Battito Divino is the band’s third release in a time span of five years as their discography already includes a demo from 2012 and EP from 2014. …

Country:

Label: Deathrune Records

Review by JH

Terrörhammer from Serbia plays high-octane black/thrash that does one thing and one thing only: bulldoze you with a tsunami of neck-snapping riffs. Under The Unholy Command is the band’s debut album, and also their first release for the Spanish label, Deathrune Records. The band gets everything right; a fiercely enjoyable brand of black/speed/thrash that should just about appeal to anyone who appreciates contemporary acts inspired by Motörhead, Sodom, Bathory, Possessed, etc.
Bands like Terrörhammer are the real deal and a …

Country:

Label: The True Plague / Appalachian Noise

Review by JH

The Projectionist is but one of the many alter-ego manifestations lead by Lord Matzigkeitus ― a very prolific and capable vocalist. On this recording, poetically titled The Gallowforest Eulogy, we are presented with five lengthy tracks of haunting and utterly bleak music that follows in the path of bands like Xasthur, Drowning the Light and Nyktalgia.
I wouldn’t really call this “Depressive Suicidal Black Metal,” however, its stylistic approach seems to fit that description. The music is minimalistic, slow, yet …

Country:

Label: Gloom Pit Records

Review by JH

Nest is a sludge/doom metal two-piece hailing from the city of Lexington and the release under review is their latest 7″EP released through Gloom Pit Records. The band specializes in murky sludge/­doom metal that evokes a truly morose atmosphere, with ultra deep, course vocal lines saturated in a barrage of heavy, down-tuned guitars that cuts through your flesh like a scalpel. The two songs featured (‘Spiked and Abandoned,’ ‘Boundless’) are punishing and fully immersed in despair that conjures a  ridiculously …