Album Reviews

Norway's progressive/folk metal quintet Borknagar delivers another stunning album “Fall” out now via Century Media Records on February 23rd, 2024. The 12th studio album truly captures the essence of Borknagar where the band continues its legacy with the guitarist and founder Øystein Garnes Brun, vocalist bassist ICS Vortex (ex-Dimmu Borgir, Arcturus), vocalist and keyboardist Lars A. Nedland (Solefald), drummer Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow and, lead guitarist Jostein Thomassen. “Fall” follows in the melodious spectrum of “True North” as there is a balance between the guitars, clean and harsh black metal vocals, and the keyboards sweeping in vividly, but for the most part, the songwriting is quite catchy.
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Wrought by the imaginative and the wizardry of V-Khaoz (Vargrav, Embryonic Slumber, Olio Tähtien Takana, etc.) whose talent in exploring vast sonic works in the realms of symphonic black metal and dungeon synth requires no further introduction. For years now, the unique fantasy world of Druadan Forest has been rooted in the sub-genre of epic black metal and dungeon synth but with the fifth installment “Dismal Spells Part 2 - The Night Circus” V-Khaoz invites us to traverse through his sonic creation, the album is set for a release date on February 23rd, 2024, via Werewolf Records.
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A lot has changed for the Swedish metalcore band Dead By April since their last release 'Worlds Collide' from 2017. In 2020 the band stated that lead singer Jimmie Strimell had been dismissed from the band for a second time due to his continued drug and alcohol abuse. He would be replaced by lead growler Christopher Kristensen. Since then, they worked hard on a new album, not easy in that Covid-19 period, but they did it. Releasing a lot of singles and some of them came back on this new album. It has been 7 years, but they are finally back with their already 5th album.
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Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Vircolac is a death metal band formed in 2013 by drummer NH (Sol Axis, ex-Kingdom, ex-Lunar Gate, ex-Cruachan) vocalist Laoghaire (ex-Sol Axis) and later guitarist BMC joined the band in 2015. The unique approach of the trio has been cited on their debut EP “The Cursed Travails of the Demeter” it was released in 2016 and followed by the band’s first full-length album “Masque”. However, one can see the similarities to bands like Venenum and early Tribulation, but Vircolac succeeded in crafting something different. Upon listening to the sophomore “Veneration” out via Dark Descent Records on February 23rd, 2024, the atmosphere and the catachrestic heaviness are showcased.
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One of the most anticipated albums of the year 2024 comes straight from the Denver, Colorado-based death/doom metal act Spectral Voice, which finally returns after seven years of silence. Comprising members from reputable acts such as Blood Incantation and Black Curse such as guitarists Morris Kolontyrsky and Paul Riedl, and bassist Jeff Barrett drummer and Eli Wendler vocalist/drummer. The sophomore release “Sparagmos” out via Dark Descent Record on February 9th, 2024, presents the epitome of supreme death doom that combines dreary ambient sound with spectral uncanny atmosphere.
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One decade after launching their fourth studio album “Dark Space III I", the Swiss atmospheric/ambient black metal voyagers DarkSpace return for another cosmic odyssey, crafted by the trio Wroth (Paysage d'Hiver), Zhaaral (Sun of the Blind), and Yhs. DarkSpace inked an international deal with Season of Mist last year with the announcement that a new material was in the work. The fifth album "Dark Space -II" is a vivid sonic adventure combining chugging grooves, electronic drums, and spacey-driven riffs scattered like mercurial droplets.
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Following the unique extravagant third endeavor “... and As We Have Seen the Storm, We Have Embraced the Eye” which was released in 2018, the German progressive death rockers Chapel of Disease seems to have mended their sound recently with their newest album “Echoes of Light” out via Ván Records since February 9th, 2024. Though I was immediately hooked to the renovated style and the characteristic change from old-school death metal to a progressive-flavored 70s rock music, I surmised that the band was up to something very creative after hearing their first single.
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Death metal kings of Norway Blood Red Throne offers a brutal delivery on the band’s 11th album “Nonagon” out now via Soulseller Records since January 26th, 2024. Blood Red Throne was formed in 1998 by guitarist Død AKA Daniel Olaisen and drummer Freddy Bolsø (ex-Enslaved). Over the past two decades the band achieved a certain popularity in Norway and Europe, their debut album “Monument of Death” was released in 2001.
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Inquisition’s take on pure black metal has become more relevant to bands like Immortal, their signature style and froggy vocals are very similar to those of Abbath. The Columbian duo has enthralled fans of black metal with their songwriting qualities. “Veneration of Medieval Mysticism and Cosmological Violence” is another chapter in the band’s musical canon out via Agonia Records since January 26th, 2024, the new endeavor proves that the Inquisition evolved to the highest caliber. The themes of witchcraft, magic, sorcery, and mysticism are the objective key to the nature of the lyrics, which isn’t something the band hasn’t delved into in the past.
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Amor Fati Productions presents the debut album “Towards the Nightside” of the international symphonic black metal formation Secrets. Features renowned members from Sweden and the U.S.A. like Swartadauþuz (Gardsghastr, Bekëth Nexëhmü) on rhythm & lead guitar, bass, and keyboards, Esoterica (Chaos Moon) on keyboards, Likpredikaren (Ars Hmu and Ringarë) on vocals, Juhos on drums and Sortilege on lead guitar and keyboards. This new project band sees these musicians joining forces in an unholy alliance that resulted in some of the most glorious 90s symphonic and atmospheric creations in recent history.
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