Daudadagr

Daudadagr is a "band" I discovered by pure chance but their sound captivated me on the very first listen and I can't seem to kick them out of my head ever since! Looking a millimeter deeper I found out that this is yet another project from the now very famous (in black metal terms at least) Swartadauþuz. So not a band. I was fooled! If you're not familiar with him or his bands I think his most recognizable/known project is Bekëth Nexëhmü and probably Azelisassath closely following it in terms of exposure. As is the case with hyper-productive people like him a lot of projects sound similar or the same and there is a lot of filler (sometimes good, sometimes not). From projects that I've checked out I can safely say they mostly fall into the "noisy lo-fi but not really lo-fi" bucket of black metal bands and projects. Some of his projects are crazy energetic, some are more subdued but all of them are consistently frosty. I've enjoyed Gardsghastr the most and of course there's only one fucking album under that name. But anyway... The project that I'm posting is somewhat similar to Gardsghastr as in there are synths and there is a noticeable Emperor-esque grandiosity to the songs and also the galloping drum beats of projects like Burzum but the sound here is much more subdued and contemplative compared to the very striking approach on Gardsghastr. 

Under this name there exists only two demos released in 2012 and 2014 so I don't have high hopes of seeing anything new under this name any time soon. The first demo is very in tune with the 90s albeit the "demo" production is much more polished and cleaned up. Sure it is raw but it is very pretty and every instrument can be distinguished even the bass gets some spotlight on the second track nicely filling the sound that the very thin tremolo riffs made room for. In general it is a very good proof of concept that will be expanded on in the next demo which can be more or less be considered to be a full length album clocking in at 45 minutes.

The "album" omits the song titles and switches to the old reliable roman numerals but the production remains loyal to the ethos of the 90s, tape hiss and all but it is noticeably thinner, I think, compared to the previous demo. Here the pace quickens, synths and effects get more noticeable and everything seems more lively in general. The liveliness certainly comes from the continuously rising and falling, all good stuff. Man sure knows how to pace his songs to get a very good flow throughout.

Both demos are real good fun and are worth checking out!

Get them / Stream(1) Them(2) 

Eiskalte - 2020 - Demo MMXIX

 

Continuing with the theme of obscurity here's another black metal band that's largely unknown (not even on Metal Archives at the time of writing!).

This tape runs for 13 minute and the cover should give you a pretty good idea on how it sounds. The closest comparison would be, of course, Paysage d'Hiver but the project is distinct enough to no be just a clone of it. The mixing is a little weird because the tape essentially has two layers of sound. The first, dominant, layer is the melancholic synthwork which is of a significantly better sound quality (and it sounds much louder) than the guitar/drums/vocal work which make the second far less dominant and softer sounding layer. The black metal part is traditional atmoshit done well with piercing vocal shrieks, blastbeats and buzzing guitars. The synths are melancholic, slow and very winter comfy. I adore to listen to bands and albums mixed like this in the middle of the night with just me and my books or whatever. The only bad thing I would say about this tape is that the jumps between the black metal and ambient parts are at points done very jarringly and definitely get you kicked out of the intended mood. Despite that I would still recommend this a try when you're in the mood for some introspective lo-fi stuff.

Get it!

Stream it!

Alpgeist - 2020 - Bergteufel und Waldgeister

 

Hey folks! I'm all healed up and I have albums to share. Last time I was posting something it was November (black metal time) so I think I'll continue with a couple more black metal albums I've discovered recently.

Alpgeist is a relatively obscure German black metal band from Bavaria that has this one long form song EP and a demo prior. I've not checked the demo but this EP is a gem that definitely needs much more (internet) exposure than it got initially back in 2020. The EP title roughly translates to mountain devils and forest spirits and as soon as it starts you'll get hit by a comfy barrage of atmospheric keyboards and melodic tremolo riffs. The atmosphere of the EP certainly is "foresty" but it is very upbeat and dynamic. The production is crisp and audible making the synths able to stand out every time they kick in. Often the nature inspired bands get bogged down in monotony but this release provides a lot of changes in tempo and riffing making these 20 minutes feel way too short. Looking forward to hear where this band goes next and in the meantime if you're in search for some solidly made black metal be sure to check this out!

Get it!

Stream it!

Flail - 2018 - Rehearsal MMXVIII

 

Here is something I discovered during this November and it is something different and strange! Flail is also a Finnish band but a much more lowkey band (although they do have a spotify page!) with not much info about them on the web. This rehearsal tape was their first official release and as luck would have it was also the first release I heard from them. Having only skimmed their future releases after this one I'm not really in a position to tell you how kvlt this one is compared to the newer ones but I does feel like this tape is more of a "proof of concept" thing than anything else. So what the hell is it? Well it is a bit difficult to describe as I don't really know any other band that sounds like them except maybe Yoga? Or I guess a really drugged out and disoriented Haexenzijrkell? Kind of?

The biggest contributor to their uniqueness is a very distorted and psychedelic guitar tone which has a bunch of weird effects that seems super layered with short bursts of delay or reverb? Or perhaps there are several guitars in the mix? I'm not really sure exactly how they are pulling this sound off but I absolutely love it. The vocals are more of an afterthought and can be heard mainly in the back and are your usual fare of pained screams that you can often hear on lo-fi tapes like this. Drumwork is slow and plodding but fits very nicely with the "slowly dragged into a void while overdosed on heroin" atmosphere of the whole tape. The only problem I have with this demo is that the guitars are definitely too high in the mix and they are suffocating pretty much everything else here and that can get annoying at certain points. Despite those production decisions this tape absolutely fucking rocks and I'm looking forward to discover the rest of their output as this tape sounds to me very fresh and unique!

Get it

Warloghe - 2017 - Lucifer Ascends

 

I've talked about this band before but I will briefly talk about this 7'' as well. Warloghe is a legendary Finnish band that recently resurfaced with a new full length which was my album of the year last year despite the album being highly orthodox and written mostly before 2021. But who cares anyway! I really like their sound as it reminds me of flesh slowly falling off from a living human as it walks. This 7'' record was released back in 2017 with little fanfare keeping in line with their "no nonsense" approach to marketing and hype. It consists of two unheard tracks, one recorded before Womb of Pestilence (first album) and one after showcasing their nuanced progress in nihilism. The title track also appears on the 2021 album in a rerecorded form. Both tracks sound weirdly yearning and melancholic to me as if they are calling back the good ol' days I guess. Great stuff and not to be missed but I am highly biased with this band so who knows. Expect high levels of not-production!

Get it / Stream it

Silberbach - 2009 - There Will Be Blood

 

Hey! It is that time of the year and I don't mean soon to be Christmas season! It is Nothing But Black Metal November! A fairly ludicrous tradition that I've picked up from /mu/ probably 5 or so years ago. Basically you are supposed to subject yourself to, as the title says, nothing but black metal for a month. Since I am and have been for years a kvlt motherfucker anyway I don't find this too difficult and basically I just use this month to revisit my black metal library, weed out the albums I no longer care for and force myself through at least some reasonable part of my massive multi year backlog. This year is no different and since we are nearing the end of november I was thinking I should share a couple of rediscovers and newly discovered albums in the next few days. Starting with...

Silberbach! Right at the start I have to say that the band name, the album title and the cover are all fucking stupid and goofy looking. But! The music is fantastic! You get 4 lengthy, varied and epic traditional black metal tracks that are highly German (and bit Norse-core especially on the second track) in style. Vocals are your usual croaky screams but the guitars are what steals the show here. Varied and harmonic the riffs are bountiful and catchy while not overly tacky with too much melodic wankery. Fun and energetic romp that I think will be pleasurable to any black metal fan.

Get it / Stream it

Obtained Enslavement - 1997 - Witchcraft

 

The fuck is that cover? The fuck is that name? The fuck is that title font? All those questions quickly evaporate once this relatively hidden gem starts its first proper track after pleasuring you with some synth cheese for about three minutes. They came from that lower bulbous part of Norway, dished out some okay albums and then petered off to somewhere else. While synth black metal albums weren't anything new or special by the time this came out these guys knew how to blend synths and guitars fairly well. Yes - it is cheese and over the top but what is written is good and perfectly listenable cheese. Giving credit to their songwriting is the fact that most songs are around 6 minutes in length but none feel like they are overstaying their welcome or are bogged down in monotony. One minute you'll have soaring tremolo riffs and shrieks and a minute later it will smoothly transition in a DOS game synth orchestration backed up by drum gallops. Something is always happening, something always changes even if for a brief moment or a tempo switch. At the total length of 50 minutes this can get you fatigued but if you are in the mood for this kind of stuff the album just breezes past.

Their other albums didn't quite grasp the brilliance of this one but the second one after this one s worth checking out if you get tired of this one.

Get it.

Stream it.

Vemod - 2012 - Venter På Stormene

 

What better way to start a year than with some finely crafted black metal? I don't see why not so let's head off in that direction.

Vemod is a Norwegian band I discovered quite a while ago when I went to see Mgla in concert during their With Hearts Towards None tour. Accompanying bands were Svartidaudi and One Tail One Head. The biggest disappointment of the evening was One Tail One Head which seemed like this really dumb gimmicky 2nd wave worship at the time but I went home I decided to give them a second chance and see how they sound on CD. Wasn't very happy with what I heard but my habit of digging through associated acts while I listen to albums paid off as I stumbled upon Vemod. The artwork captivated me so I gave it a try and I was rewarded with a very fine listening experience.

Vemod's style is deeply rooted in the old school style of black metal, there's not much here in terms of experimental riffs or out of the box thinking compositions. What Vemod excels in is what all good black metal albums should excel in and that is atmosphere. It is melancholic without being edgy, it is somber without being cheesy. It feels very honest and natural in all of the four tracks that this album offers. Complementing the melancholic black metal are ambient passages that feel at home in between and during the metal parts. The third track on this album is entirely ambient and probably my highlight of the whole journey. I also feel like they managed to tastefully implement some post-rock influence as well as there are some less distorted passages every now and then (most notably on the second track). 

Vemod have finally announced a new album for this year and I have my fingers crossed that it will be at least as good as this one if not even better. Until then there is no time like now to get into their first album.

Dig it.

Blaze Of Perdition - 2015 - Near Death Revelations

Blaze Of Perdition is a band with who I have a mixed relationship with. I saw them live twice and they were incredibly boring, absolutely no redeeming value. Felt like I'm seeing budget Mgla or something. On the other hand on albums they sound actually really fucking good. While most of their albums are either alright or better this one always stands out to me. Maybe this was because it was made after the band had some really tragic encounters with death and when they regrouped they had something of value to say. In terms of sound they definitely resonate some Mgla (and Behemoth during more chaotic segments) but I'd say they work on the guitar details far more than them and generally have a fairly different approach to writing. Every song has two or three things happening at any point giving them a good proggy and dynamic feeling. There's never a dull moment but songs sometimes feel a bit over designed at places, letting some riffs breathe more would elevate this great album into something even better. It's evident that they were brimming with ideas and they put most of them to good use and I think for a modern "Polish sounding" black metal album this one feels like an underappreciated gem honestly. Give it a chance, skip them when they're playing live near you.

Get it.

Plaga ‎- 2011 - Pożeracze Słońc

Plaga is a relatively obscure Polish black metal band that released one album back in 2013 and they have been quite since then. While the album is kinda alright (haven't returned to it in years) what put them on the underground radar is this EP that they did two years prior. While being just three tracks in total it delivered a lot promise and skill along with its comfortable 20 minute length overall. The style they play is a highly paced and fairly melodic approach to black metal with little care to how noisy the guitars actually are. It's not a well produced EP and you can hear its demo-like qualities but what they lack in professionalism they compensate in their intensity and catchy riffing. Good stuff.

Get it.

Gravesoil - 2014 - Oblations Of Blood

Gravesoil is (or was) a Finnish black metal band that released this demo and then went away. What they did record sounds to my ears like Casus Luciferi but more rawer and of course more lo-fi (it's a tape demo after all). The demo is just three songs but honestly I think they're all worthwhile a listen if anything just to reminisce how there was a time people liked Watain for their music and not their fashion.

Get it.

Martwa Aura - 2016 - Tenebrae Divine

By now everyone should be aware that Poland has some really sweet black metal bands. Over the years the scene there as a whole managed to carve its own unique feel and sound of black metal. But Poland is not just a couple of famous bands, there's quality in the lower levels of the hierarchy. Martwa Aura isn't a band that will naturally come to mind when someone mentions Poland and for good reason. They don't have that much of a buzz around them. Their album from 2015 is not really to my linking mainly because of the mix and production on the vocals. I just can't get into it; I did like everything else on it though. Lucky for me everything else but that vocal production is present on their EP which came out a year later in 2016. Their sound matured into a grisly, melodic romp filled with tempo changes and lovely old tremolo riffing. The vocals changed for the good, now being a bit more in the background. They sound subdued and raspy while the riffing blasts and rips away everything in front of them. Albeit short all three songs showcase a good intuition for melodies and all songs are packed with an array of riffs. There's some tinge of thrash metal in the breakdowns as well. It's a well packed little EP that makes me very hopeful for the eventual next album.

Get it.

Urzeit - 2013 - Urzeit

I don't know why but there's a strange degree of comfiness that comes with listening lo-fi black metal in the middle of the night. Bonus points if it's snowing of course. Urzeit fills this niche need for comfiness with all of it's might on this demo. This demo is raw and unpolished with a bit of punkish flair (as it goes with American black metal it seems) and it's over rather quickly. But for the duration that it lasts it offers a nice variety in riffs and structure. Not really as good or impactful as their latter releases but still a very enjoyable demo when you're in that special mood.

Get it.

Warloghe - Womb Of Pestilence

Keeping on with the kvlt theme here's another relatively hidden gem. Warloghe was/is a Finnish black metal band which has been going for a while now quietly putting out material from the late 90s up till now.

They have two albums and a couple of side stuff but this, their second album, is probably the pinnacle of their craft. They're a kvlt band thru and thru featuring grimy production, tremolos and raspy vocals but it's done so right you can't really imagine it sounding any different. They keep the flame brightly lit with this album. There's nothing really left to say about it; if you like raw 2nd wave black metal then you should definitely grab this one and if you're a false don't entry~

Get it here.

Annthennath - States Of Liberating Departure

A month or so ago Deathspell Omega announced a new album. This was great news to me because I was wholly convinced that the band is done. While I was anxiously waiting for the new album I spent some time revisiting their older and much less popular (or meaningful?) part of their discography. I'm referring to their pre-SMRC era of old school traditional black metal. Checking out all those splits they did and first two albums made me more interested in what the hell Shaxul was doing all of these years rather than to just revisit old DsO material. So I ended up getting a bunch of his bands and went on an adventure.

Reading his interviews and listening to bands on his label roster or bands where he played you'll quickly understand that he is old school and unchanging to the bone. He and people like him are the spirit of the underground scene. Sadly and I think inevitably they will eventually become ghosts as I feel at the moment that there will be no people to replace them.

In any case Annthennath is the best thing he has ever done in my opinion. This is what DsO would have sounded a few years down the line if Shaxul was in charge of things. Musically this albums is as traditional as it gets but it's not marred down by shit production or bad songwriting. The album is an expansive and interesting exploration of what can be done in the frame of black metal alone. There are plenty of riffs but they are not fun in a conventional way as they offer only darkness and cold. Another interesting thing about this album is that it actually has a very audible and well played bass. And by that I don't mean that you can hear it every now and then in the breakdown it's actually present at all times, complementing the guitars. This is both good and bad as it can sometimes detract from the overall sound (or maybe I'm just not used to hear bass that loud in black metal). All of this joined with Shaxul's unique vocal sound makes States Of Liberating Departure an underappreciated gem of finely played black metal.

Get it here.

Hrid - Synjemorian Serpent Race

Probably the most annoying thing about music is when a band just disappears. This is the case with the band Hrid, they did two demos and then vanished into the void.

They were (or still are but inactive) a black metal band from Croatia. I can't remember where I got this demo but I've recently decided to give it a listen and I was very positively surprised at how good it is. Sure it's nothing spectacular or ground breaking but it's damn fine black metal. Despite it being just a very short demo the songs are very fleshed out with riffs and good drumming. There's really nothing to complain about it aside from its short length. Even the production is good considering that it's a lo-fi demo. All instruments are audible and dirty enough so that they can pack a punch and not sound monotonous or sterile.

It's a great demo and you should give it a try if you're into black metal. It's a shame bands like this get so little recognition around these parts of the world.

Get.

The Black Metal November

Here it is! Have fun! Here are all the albums I wanted to post during the black metal november but didn't because I got distracted by Counter Strike.

I've written short thoughts about each so you have some guidance but also youtube links!

Abigor - 1996 - Opus IV
Short thoughts: Third Abigor album and one of my favorites from their “olden days”. Intricate riffing and solid song structure makes it great but their unique atmosphere and sound makes them stand out from the crowd.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlAHiyGN-l8
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!tsImSbSI!YI6h5pnMJ2Ypxz9iILBMgRmve4FLUtnW21T39dpIGQ8

Agrypnie - 2010 - 16[485]
Short thoughts: Interesting and unique. I never delved completely into this band because it’s not exactly something that I generally listen but every now and then I remember this band and this album and I decide to spin it. It’s modern, slick and unusual so it can appeal even to outsiders.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psva0eSZx6c
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!BkZSmaya!KLFDiG7TEvipXwhtqQzCapnAgzYX4QEYs5OexctsFfA

Altar of Plagues - 2009 - White Tomb
Short thoughts: AoP is a band that is now stigmatized by the audience (especially since their final album) as one of those black metal bands that are for people who aren’t into black metal. I like them despite the stigma and I think they had a mostly good run. White Tomb is when they were a much more rawer and “truer” experience.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCLbV-m-adI
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!Q15ijACa!kjF5KsbupliqZb9eGg_7l-HUQSW931VQUK4hz0WeUPQ

Antaeus - 2000 - Cut Your Flesh And Worship Satan
Short thoughts: A very famous French band that I often come back to. This is their first full length and I absolutely love it. It’s raw and it’s pretty straightforward but it has a lot of charm and charisma. It’s also not that long so it does not get boring.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmhOTG0rm5Q
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!8kBgxDgZ!bgxkkYLBENKLFrY5_cMtmHz5-Mk1ToSp6juTQa-twbw

Antaeus - 2006 - Blood Libels
Short thoughts: Probably their best album so far. They ironed out their production and writing skills so this is pretty much their magnum opus. Very fast and very intense album.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_8jeMk8jNs
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!ZgwAyDIZ!7F-PE4G7jcCVhPRoTnhtMN15q-lDPWwdYAAAsyGL9oE

Aosoth - 2009 - Ashes of Angels
Short thoughts: A band that hit it big with their 2013 album called An Arrow in Heart. Ashes of Angels is a much more humble and old-school record but there is much merit in it. Even though it’s conventional in every way they manage to make it compositionally interesting by doing something new and interesting on each track. Their best from their catalog in my opinion.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw7vE2TdRoA
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!h85zGT4B!V7s3PPhW6evlxWn-LYg6t6Q0K9xTHK2F0xo1L1sYpvY

Ash Pool - 2007 - World Turns On Its Hinge
Short thoughts: Joint project from the guy behind Prurient and some other random dude. It’s a take on more noisy and punkish black metal. Later on in their career they got really stale and “weak” but their debut album is excellent albeit often reminding me of some kind of softer version of Bone Awl. Very raw and relentless nonetheless.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpYckk6-MeM
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!1kw2mZCL!Zc_ZwFM-jNfxvmFk1LWOuHnh5BFSJuE778VmQLZYvAU

Bestial Warlust - 1994 - Vengeance War Till Death
Short thoughts: Bestial black metal from Australia of all places. I don’t know a lot of bands from Australia but I decided to check out some “cult classics” and this album really grabbed me. It’s one of those hate it or love it cases so if you’re not particularly into bestial breed of black metal - don’t grab this.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itmD1sP6MSo
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!Mo4VlJ5B!8mbVGP3HaF_ngdf6vGv8Z8CY6nMoJvki4JkgDlk3bPI

Black Cilice - 2011 - A Corpse, A Temple
Short thoughts: A little known band from Portugal that has a slew of demos, splits and EPs. This is their first official full length and it’s different, strange and inaccesible. It’s noisy but not noise-like. It’s very cold and distant but also very piercing with its sound. Not for everyone.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmZyUmrZNhg
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!EkJzharD!iQ2jbzVzFjBX6dARW52668LMpR1-6uwl7QM8-d_3VMI

Blasphemophagher - 2008 - Nuclear Empire of Apocalypse
Short thoughts: This band is so far the most accessible and plesant sounding bestial black metal band that I found. If you’re looking to ease your way into this microgenre of Blasphemy worship I think this might be a good place to start.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7K39a1qpNo
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!cgRhhBIJ!yEyZ-uH0GJzj8R7bJkC63JcT4tGSwmsv9j6qR_9FLBA

Chalice Of Blood - 2005 - Angelus Diaboli
Short thoughts: A lovingly short demo tape riding on the occult and “orthodox” hype train. It’s not very original (they do have a cool cover for this demo though) but I like it nonetheless mainly because of its throwback 2nd wave sound mixed with early DsO.

Sample: N/A
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!AloVCB4Q!w6-tQOXg9avfSkYYvRFymlA70w9Ac83MF7P4-biFOlo

Code - 2009 - Resplendent Grotesque
Short thoughts: Code has three albums. Their last being a new venture with new members (didn't like it very much). Before that they released two albums with completely different line-ups. Both are very interesting and good but I prefer this one a bit more than the other. It’s a mix of things, not very straightforward album but it has a unique atmosphere, great compositions and excellent execution. It’s what I would call a unique and innovative album that retains its roots.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7QY8ab8aKc
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!FhBHmSLK!RTD5_b7gg7onPzY4-WRFZZk45Pam9QyQDMdnYxVgmq0

Craft - 2002 - Terror Propaganda
Short thoughts: Swedish mid-paced black metal. Angry, cold and bitter record with lovingly raspy vocals. Imagine mid-era Darkthrone but done well and you get this album.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGgSOypU3vs
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!slwHhayb!a7uXtBtCdfGsQECuw_AhXZa7MZ-DwQ1tTEVmDf-rNbY

Dead Shell of Universe - 2008 - Tamo Gde Pupoljak Vene...Tamo Je Moje Seme
Short thoughts: A Serbian black metal band that released this and then went into silence. I’m not sure what’s going on with them but this EP proved that they have solid skill in making good DsO inspired black metal. They took a lot of cues from Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice so if you liked that album chances are pretty good that you’ll enjoy this one too.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WW5B2iENys
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!sl4FBYxY!BWzuOqAaBXpbKDYjkjxTgyIOk6vIR3Qt9kyvXbXmGSM

Der Weg Einer Freiheit - 2011 - Agonie
Short thoughts: Tremolo loving and blast beating band from Germany. It leans on the depressive side of things but it’s not obnoxious. This was their EP that they put out after their debut album. It’s a refinement of their craft and a glimpse into their fruitful future. Great and relatively short introduction for a very consistently good but overlooked band.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHrO9AJzWNg
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!Y9w13YLD!EH6uuVsUdw5cHqRa3lD_hlXixA1QOrkk1v5byfMha84

Dødsengel - 2009 - Visionary
Short thoughts: Mostly known for their massive two hour trek called Imperator these guys did great stuff before that. While Imperator was something that I personally never managed to like their other albums I've enjoyed immensely. Visionary is probably my favorite from the bunch. It’s a very bare, sharp record that’s brimming with insanity in its riffs and vocals. Very energetic, alive and passionate record.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1a62abVyoY
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!wooGnIbL!TdQ8kJl96Ae8N51TklKIJFGs5BDzxHS7nDVbQbEjU4c

Dødsengel - 2010 - Mirium Occultum
Short thoughts: Another album that I like by these guys. In contrast to Visionary this album is much more restrained, calm and brooding. It’s a somber and slow record filled with dread on each track. A showcase that this band can do different styles while maintaining their unique aura.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t85Bq5_a-rY
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!ZpozWYzB!1YdrpYVzTCR6crQnvGgE12OTqMfPnWEGnAEUFBaxrz0

Dusk - 2005 - Carpathian Darkness
Short thoughts: A Hungarian band! I've heard very few black metal bands from Hungary and most of them I didn't really like sadly. Dusk is nothing new but it’s a well made Darkthrone-esque old school black metal album. Their other albums are not that great.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgLPpqaIFz4
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!d8Qxyb7L!ONvvvtecCzwLPBbwmzVlx6JxDWQI1TZWpjOJjcE3PIk

Elderwind - 2012 - Magic Wildlife
Short thoughts: Slow paced moody black metal album that goes for the atmosphere rather than riffing. It’s well made, maybe a little derivative but it has its heart in the right place. Melancholic and slow, this is something I always want to put on if I’m working on something at home and outside is just a wall of winter fog.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jewP1R9gbog
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!c1pz2ShT!ZYnwxcEOGzmgE7SpqbZ5sUfWjdQ9EJRqgwOX9tapaSI

Endstille - 2003 - Frühlingserwachen
Short thoughts: This band is pretty much how I would like Marduk to sound after their Panzer Division Marduk. While Marduk is more loose and chaotic Endstille is calm, directed and lethal. Also very fun. This is perhaps their most unique album.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa1GwEOKf9Y
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!gpI22RRI!XAzx1feXKhUI4Led7-U-EJp6v1li2yhoeMdS-zJd6aA

Endstille - 2004 - Dominanz
Short thoughts: The only problem that I have with Endstille is that they like to do the same idea over and over. This album is the groundwork of what’s to come later in their career.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-wRs5945Q8
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!h95DkC4a!VHK3q2LOe2dJy355Olb-AWaDDBuGEF1EhLggsYMvD7M

Enslaved - 1994 - Frost
Short thoughts: Enslaved is one of those old school bands that managed to break out of their shackles and profit from it. In a creative way of course. They went on to do a lot of interesting and different albums but Frost is and album that I always come back to when I think of them. It’s just so lovingly created, the drumming especially. So much tasty fills and passages, everything else just fits in with them so nicely. One of my favorites.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KySr2rBvHE
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!dgwWgQ5B!MkLvdLtBtWR1LequWL9twjK83UqYLF0ISGME6Jac1Qo

Fauna - 2012 - Avifauna
Short thoughts: A band coming from the USA with a focus on atmosphere and nature. Slow building and ethereal this band likes to take its time to get to the point but I think it’s very well executed. They’re flawed but even with that I think they’re unappreciated in the great scheme of things.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s_6G-cR2Ok
Link:
https://mega.co.nz/#!o1pTFToA!saTaBEEajd2iVgYeGdhutWbsBObpyItc8_mf-WtZMAY
https://mega.co.nz/#!N5oEBLDb!btBs7hlayDKh3F8wAHvg7LnawF5N7P2jAuBC5EefTYY
https://mega.co.nz/#!w151DDzC!JmrW2o6-T3r7L4BYdd1bvp8fOogPv5K_fUCiBcTiMi0

Forest - 1998 - Foredooming the Hope for Eternity
Short thoughts: Scandinavia had Darkthrone but Russia had Forest. An enigmatic band from the 90s that produced some really excellent lo-fi black metal. I don’t know much about them and it’s a possibility they were a nazi band but if you can get past that you’re in for some really good and moody lo-fi black metal burning with that 90s passion.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTVT0BlQ72A
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!hth0QYSI!9G1Zm2W2ArEbrv5Yp3oa_mEGOalSyU0QtOLId-QtbaE

Graupel - 2010 - Am Pranger
Short thoughts: I found these guys out via a split that they did with Endstille. They were pretty good on it so I decided to check them out in full. They have two albums (from what I recall) and this is the one that I like a bit better. Well produced, oppressive, finely paced and packing that Germanic punch throughout makes this album a very enjoyable listen every time I remember myself that this band exists.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLNN24lVkfE
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!4txnEABY!38ct5sOerlEJGXo6fuLP5nERFQzznI4S10hUUVE5Bx8

Hate Forest - 2003 - Purity
Short thoughts: The legendary Hate Forest. A Ukrainian band that everyone should know (and potentially love). Very minimal and very harsh this is something I always like to spin if I’m in a mood for some “eastern European” black metal. All of his records are kinda samey but I find myself listening to this one the most.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5aSXUhAXDE
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!FppjEJ5Q!dzJQDewN5X_8F4jbsVpDGEX4bn8JZQKBaveG7GIUe3o

Helrunar - 2005 - Frostnacht
Short thoughts: Another German delight. There’s nothing really for me to say here. They’re a modern, polished black metal that avoids the satanic in favor of paganism and nature. Although it’s modern they carry the 2nd wave torch proudly, especially in the vocal department. A good entry album into their overall stainless discography. They have a new album this year but I haven’t checked it out yet.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27ZVwjIzLTI
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!Qo4XCT6b!0D3znaRymLWaDBR47iQzF4QLJqfmM7OZ0vl67HycpkU

Horna - 2008 - Sanojesi Äärelle
Short thoughts: When it comes to Finland I’m more of a death metal guy but generally I’m not really aware of a lot of bands that come from there. Horna was probably the first Finnish metal band that I've actually listened and they've been a mixed bag for me ever since. Their discography is massive and I never really bothered myself to go through it all but every now and then I’ll pick something out form them and try it out. This was my latest positive hit. It’s a two CD album with the first CD being more polished and pretty while the second one is a much more raw affair. That second CD is pretty much why I’m sharing this album, it’s just that great.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxUtxcoEU_o
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!ZppzwbjI!qwhpp7zx_A4YyFhkwJhiv6c6phK-O1oyPJKcIatv-NQ

Inferno - 2009 - Black Devotion
Short thoughts: Another band with a massive discography. I've only heard two albums by these guys and I like them both equally but this one seems to be much more focused and coherent. They’re currently riding the ultra-orthodox super-scary-serious Satanism that seems to be all the rage these days. If you’re into that sort of thing be sure to check these guys out.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LntGaCjPBJ0
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!YggiFSLR!qmEAnfjGyEnr2ReKfyiPYs9gHwrceW7z_xDPqvLOY_E

Inquisition - 2010 - Ominous Doctrines Of The Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm
Short thoughts: Oh God those riffs! THE RIFFS! SO MANY, SO TASTY. THE RIFFS MUST FLOW. If you can get past the Immortal-esque frog vocal delivery you’re into the wildest and most pleasurable riff ride of your entire black metal LIFE.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2TgehDuBOU
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!10gzCA6S!73hPHvQN3-o7h-jczZcgI0zeylbgT8CsEHdKNPe_MlM

Ithdabquth Qliphoth - 2005 - Ithdabquth Qliphoth
Short thoughts: A Russian band that I obsessed over when I first got into the genre. Nowadays I spin this mostly out of nostalgia but they are good songs albeit lo-fi and sort of amateurish in delivery. They did better things later on but I dunno, this release warms my heart every time I hear it.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raYk_fpHRE0
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!p9wyWQwJ!eoG_XA1j4ZHYtYEFiZkldllNEfoxSsx8GeBagGpmthk

Keep Of Kalessin - 1997 - Through Times Of War
Short thoughts: A band that’s not really known for their black metal part of the career bute nevertheless the album that they did in the style was made with care and skill. It’s your standard 2nd wave fare but it’s done well and it manages to not get boring despite its very traditional approach to the music. The only “unique” thing I can say about this band is that they sing about the Earthsea saga which how I got to this band in the first place. Kind of a strange match-up but oh well.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8JI47PrS0Q
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!lhRlBS6T!vD8zsbQMsQodMogBWdpIzxShjR9tVbpAMG9F3P2su9M

Klabautamann - 2009 - Merkur
Short thoughts: A very lauded and appreciated album this album deserved all the hype it got. It’s interesting, innovative and not very pretentious in its goals. They lean more on the whole picture rather than just a good series of riffs which makes them often dabble in tempo changes, interludes and strange progressions. So yeah, kind of progressive in its overall nature. Joy to listen if you’re willing to concentrate on it but also works with a more relaxed listening approach.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhXhTxIgacw
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!VsB1mBhB!XLDgPuk5Af0yjJGUnApoGjs3nAy_Jsia4Rv-0WQVa7Q

Lunar Aurora - 2004 - Zyklus
Short thoughts: An ridiculously good band that didn't do any wrong throughout their entire career. I adore this band and I’m generally unable to give any more objective directions for anyone to try this out. They’re atmospheric on this record but if you have the time then go through their whole discography and witness a wonderful blossoming and eventual rotting of this band. Such a shame they broke up (again) but then again they left with many great albums.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE2yFKzhYR4
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!B5ZVBSBY!lJzk_FiVUx3RglTKtThGOKrbypuIhqqq2yz4RqPd8cI

Marduk - 1993 - Those of the Unlight
Short thoughts: Well...it’s Marduk. I had to share at least one of their albums. They were among the first black metal bands that I heard in my life and I've been loving their output ever since. Yeah, they can get a little stale now and then, especially after Panzer Divison Marduk but I think overall they’re a band worth following. This album is my favorite by them, it was made before their iconic breakthrough album so it’s a much more tamed beast. I love it though.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPyGBajSXoI
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!JkhTiZ6K!YKv35L8Jb1BZSI7z6PnSI2G_IdWXPOjmautDIZHaHVo

Mgła - 2012 - With Hearts Toward None
Short thoughts: Perhaps the most finely crafted and polished black metal album that came out of Poland. A joy to listen and a really good entry into the band or the genre in general. If you haven’t heard this yet you’re missing out on some really good stuff man.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHfUsIm0z28
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!41Z1yYoL!PcpHLzZ62225-2orWiJNpexf80RQuWgBGeRTW6C5FdQ

Mord - 2008 - Necrosodomic Abyss
Short thoughts: Furious album that offers not that much diversity but plenty of blast beats, tremolo riffs and crisp in-your-face production. A jolly to listen in the background but not for much else.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvWEhNPMXt8
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!54JiVbSa!ZimjJnaByaa2eNi3_TbhJDVM5hWTUlAb7BhxqDmf_Dg

Nokturnal Mortum - 2009 - The Voice Of Steel
Short thoughts: Noktrunal Mortum are well established in the scene, partially due to their controversial website (not sure if it’s still up) packed with absurd NS theories and partially due to their great music. The Voice Of Steel for me is their magnum opus. They broke out of their shell, embraced a lot of other influences and made a very atmospheric and unique album that will probably never be topped by anything else they make in the future.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3Bm_cNkt1g
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!x9BiHRQL!o7JtvwEvZ8cRqzdfpwoyvo5fc3d-C7UKnxLVL3G8Q6M

Obolus - 2011 – Lament
Short thoughts: Generally I’m not that into depressive side of black metal but sometimes I go after it when I feel like I should try something out of my comfort zone. Obolus is one of my more positive experiences. They are definitely monotonous, reverb laden and feature weird vocals but it seemingly fits together well. It’s also very short so that’s probably why I like it.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nA0qT8q6l0
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!skZyzDCT!DDbTJCIq6VYSZYH4eE9Pee3T9TpsDsBDCXNeTxsGyJ8

Ondskapt - 2003 - Draco Sit Mihi Dux
Short thoughts: An underrated band that got swept under the orthodox hype. They’re good but lacking in anything progressive or new to really be at the top. Ondskapt is one of those bands that you recommend when someone is asking “give me something similar to x”. Some of their albums are bloated but I think this is their best. It’s very brooding and depressing. Reminds me a bit of Burzum.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw5HcBi5CeU
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!1s4GXSpS!FC0D4qzyAZ8HD6Nr4lA5y837_bRVtzF_vtFP1yuqOM0

Orcivus - 2008 - Consummatum Est
Short thoughts: Another overlooked orthodox band. This was their debut and it sounded very promising. Too bad after it everything else was just a rehash. Here though, this band shines the most and offers a lot of good riffage and well composed songs with steady and firm deep raspy vocals.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvbN-ypDh6k
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!VswEkSxL!jB9I2tuBqrBnH_R-AJHN9tw0usXVV64uDOdnXVHmhxM

Pest - 2005 - In Total Contempt
Short thoughts: Another Darkthrone-esque band that likes to riff on Sardonic Wrath era of the band. Not very original but the delivery is where it’s at with this band. Every song on this album is a fantastic thrashing mid-paced black metal.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFdFzDnyQnM
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!Y44nkaiI!cxx3IQE-dIFqAtui5Xzgn9YH6ZGUqveh-2sTVbDlkXY

S.V.E.S.T. - 2005 - Coagula - L'Ether Du Diable
Short thoughts: I got to this band through Deathspell Omega and I was not left disappointed. They offer a very raw and aggressive brand of chaotic black metal. As it usually goes with more underground bands, they have a bunch of EPs, splits and demos but only one album. Coagula compiles their first two demos and they fuck shit up.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3jhOCcfG_s
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!t1I0SbBa!PWXv2V56O2BBlM_aBsIJdUvlLbVbOvYh3ZYScIy0ecU

Spite Extreme Wing - 2005 - Kosmokrator
Short thoughts: When it comes to Italy there are very few bands that I truly like. SEW is one of those that I actually wholly enjoy. They come from Genoa and their music is familiar but with their own special twist. They broke up a few years back but they left us with a mostly good discography behind. If only more bands like this existed in Italy. eh.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXQYe9qtIvg
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!csBDVaTA!qQubKp6TVw8ZjuKW1kaR8MVjcL9IdgEYO2qHVCY60TY

Svartidauði - 2010 - The Temple of Deformation
Short thoughts: An Icelandic band that’s currently hot shit and for a good reason. Their debut was pretty fucking amazing. Seeing how their debut is really fresh I've decided to share some of their older stuff. I heard all of their demos and this seems to be the most refined while still having that raw feeling of a demo. They’re a very chaotic band that utilizes big walls of sound and cacophony that invokes that lovely feeling of being drown somewhere off the coast of Iceland.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvPZlEw59hw
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!Y1wwwYjQ!w5dBFrAF6tAwsFT7ovB6ugfA2KlHEndd0hor0Xish2Q

Thy Darkened Shade - 2012 - Eternvs Mos, Nex Ritvs
Short thoughts: Aside from the stupidly stupid name this band is just a joy to listen. They have two albums as of yet and they both offer great songs that are very luscious in their composition. There’s just so many things going on here, so much changes, intricacies and riffs that get you lost in the music the moment the album starts. If you have the time to focus on an entire album get this.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW86Jura47s
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!Ap4jHRaA!1xQ7BI_mW57a2rsCVFkNYrs3fgNcvsWUZhR9HsNCVs4

Torture Chain - 2012 - Time is But a Doorway to the Incinerator
Short thoughts: I've been following this US band ever since they put out their 2009 release called Mountains of Hate and so far I loved pretty much their entire output aside from maybe their 2013 release. They’re a very traditional, no-nonsense black metal band but with that US twist on the genre. It’s not completely nihilistic in its sound and it offers a solo or two along the way.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yGQZBZvsiY
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!l953jRpK!QdN73V4hNKdDqyt90plJnuojwZTJ2TuacSsZ5zSMXa0

Tsjuder - 2011 - Legion Helvete
Short thoughts: “Pure unadulterated no frills black metal band“ is probably the best description that I could find for this band. There's just nothing wrong with this album, everything falls into its rightful place. Perhaps a little too much by the numbers? Well who cares, the riffs compensate for this.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oru7a1FXJEU
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!9lZA1YAR!D5xZN6Pw0dZl-oEsDCrsgLQgHOHdEPPuy7Q_gf57xds

Vemod - 2012 - Venter på stormene
Short thoughts: This is a side project from the guitarist and ex-drummer of One Tail, One Head. OTOH is fucking awful on tape and live and their music always bores me to tears but luckily this album is nothing like OTOH. Vemod strives for that nightly lo-fi yet not so lo-fi sound and they do it so well. It’s dripping with atmosphere on all tracks and it’s so cold and isolated in its sound that it’s just a marvel to listen. It also features a lengthy ambient track to envelop you even more. Great stuff, make this band your primary focus dammit!

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgG0-n1Bsm4
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!pthkXJ7Y!okKY_wDog7TWLCOz0kdI8JVfKQgC2asLws-LLMhhgis

Ygg - 2011 - Ygg
Short thoughts: An overlooked atmospheric black metal album from Ukraine. It never made much of a splash despite having some of the more well known black metal musicians involved in making of it. It’s a shame because this is actually some of the best atmospheric black metal that I've heard. It’s very pretty so it might not jive well with everyone I guess.

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R0M5hRynpA
Link: https://mega.co.nz/#!BgYEBSzJ!bq7ZjTF3DyYwYIuB4duB0tVMyCsHEm3wlgM6KqtLFEk

Drautran - Throne of the Depths

Drautran starts off mellow, if it didn't have the spooky bubbling sounds you might mistake this for some folk record but it's only to ease you in. They did it really effectively. First come the acoustics, then the drums, then vocals, then guitars and by the time first song finishes and the second one comes in you're in the fucking boiling point that starts smacking everything around. 

The synths continue throughout but the album is much more aggressive and lively than you would presume from the first track. Rich in composition, melody and controlled chaos this band mostly reminds me of Emperor (at least older Emperor) and this mood is helped by excellent synths that drive in the background. Surprisingly they're not that tacky or out of place for this album. Usually synths get in the way of more aggressive bands but I think they fit really nice here for the most part.

Overall the album tries its hardest to bring an epic, loud and detailed atmosphere with oppressive sounds but they are often split up by more quieter parts that serve as a much needed breather. It's a dynamic that works for them and I found no difficulties going through the album several times. It's a real shame Drautran managed to release just one album but they definitely left a mark with it.

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Furia - Martwa Polska Jesień

I hate this cover. It feels so amateurish, it's not representative of the band at all.

Furia is a band that comes from Poland, they have four albums out (newest came out this year) and most of them seem to be pretty highly rated. I've only checked out this one so I'm not sure how it compares to the others but of what I heard this is certainly another quality band from the rich Polish scene of black metal.

Musically the album is reminiscent of Mgła but perhaps less melodic, more aggressive and less fast. Despite being less catchy than Mgła they still are quite melodic and pleasing on the ears. Another great factor are the vocals which are some kind of pained groans that go along with the music quite nicely and they don't feel tacked on the music. Another highlight of the album are the drums, especially the blastbeasts, that thunder throughout the whole album. The drummer is for me the biggest factor why their sound is so rich with detail. I guess the only complaint I have with this is album is that sometimes it sounds  a bit sterile.

Highly recommended.

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Norns - In Fog They Appear

Norns is one of those bands that released one or two demos and then disappeared into the void. Their demo came out back in 2005 and since then I haven't seen anything else by them aside from one song on some random split with another obscure band from Germany.

Originally I didn't plan to post this today but this whole day was just filled with fog everywhere and it reminded me to revisit this demo. It's good, it's nothing special or innovative but if you're looking for some quality lo-fi second wave black metal then you should grab this. It's a shame they (supposedly) broke up because I can definitely hear some great potential here. Finland was always good when it comes to black metal like this.

Apparently there's a CD version of this demo that's still in print which you can get here along with some more obscure, tape-only bands.

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