VASTUM - Carnal Law Review

Vastum - Carnal Law Remaster Reissue (20 Buck Spin)
Release date: March 10th 2017

8.0

SAILLE - Gnosis Review

Saille - Gnosis (Code666)

Release date : March 13th, 2017

The fourth album of the prolific Belgian Black Metal quintet of Saille is a concept album exploring the world of the Promethean ideal and its Luciferian counterpart. Taking inspiration from the Symphonic Black Metal that followed the Second Wave of Black Metal, Saille’s sound is closer to Windir, Dark Funeral, and Emperor than Dimmu Borgir even if they still have a clean sound and the backing of a Polish production of the Hertz studio (Behemoth, Decapitated, Vader).

ANDE - Het gebeente Review

Ande - Het gebeente (Self-released)
Release date: January 7th 2017

This is pretty much a copy paste of the Scandinavian Second Wave of Black Metal sound except for some Doom elements here and there that steers the music towards an Atmospheric BM.

Nothing really groundbreaking and even the production sounds as if it was a DarkThrone's UnHoly Trinity takeover or an early Burzum record.

Another Black Metal one-man-band in the ocean of one-man-bands.

5.0

WOE - Hope Attrition Review

WOE - Hope Attrition (Vendetta Records)
Release date : March 17, 2017

Woe was formed in 2007 as a black metal solo project of multi-instrumentalist Chris Grigg. After catching the underground’s attention with a strong demo of ugly, raw black metal, the first full-length, A Spell For The Death Of Man, was unleashed in 2008. The album presented the first glimpse of modern Woe: faithful to the traditions established by the black metal classics but a willingness to inject a very American perspective by way of punk and hardcore influences. It found critical acclaim both in the underground and beyond.

SUNLESS - Urraca Review

Sunless - Urraca (Self-released)

Release date : February 24th, 2017

As I am into a lot of things other than reviewing new releases lately, I am still listening to a bunch of the albums that are overcrowding our promo mailbox. February wasn’t the strongest month in new releases and there are few records that will eventually be in my permanent rotation. Sunless and their first full length Urraca might be one of the few acts to be piercing this so-called prestigious rotation of mine. Their use of Dissonant Metal à la Gorguts and Ulcerate is quite something.

THERA ROYA - Stone And Skin Mini-Review

Thera Roya - Stone And Skin (Self-released)

Release date: February 17th, 2017

6.0

Record Of The Month: January 2017

INSANITY CULT - Of Despair And Self Destruction Review

Insanity Cult - Of Despair And Self Destruction (Ogmios Underground)
Release date: February 11th, 2017

6.0

XIBALBA - Diablo, Con Amor… Adios EP Review

Xibalba - Diablo, Con Amor… Adios EP (Closed Casket Activities)

Release date : February 17th, 2017

The release of their full length Tierra Y Libertad last year showcased their mastery at merging Hardcore and Metal together was well received. To some, they sounded a lot like Hatebreed. The comparison isn’t false but Xibalba has more Metal in their song structures than the aforementioned band and less cheesy moments. One year later, they are now releasing a three songs EP Diablo, Con Amor… Adios with the songs ‘’Diablo’’, ‘’Con Amor’’, and ‘’Adios’’.

YITH - Dread Review

Yith - Dread (Hellthrasher Productions / Vendetta Records)
Release date: February 10th, 2017

The first full-length from Yith, is a cold slab of hopeless black/doom that continues the project’s exploration of darkness, fear and grief. With haunting melodies and lyrical inspiration coming from the pages of M.R. James and H.P. Lovecraft, „Dread” tries to pull the listener into a bleak abyss of endless horror. 

5.0