PESTILENT HEX - Sorceries Of Sanguine and Shadow review

 

PESTILENT HEX - Sorceries Of Sanguine and Shadow 

Debemur Morti Productions

It's good to see some newer bands making early era Black Metal great again. In this band's case it's Symphonic BM but not from what you've been exposed to by the generic wannabes who copied past greats. PESTILENT HEX are a two piece act hailing from Finland who started out back in 2017. Their debut album, The Ashen Abhorrence, came out in 2022 and on Debemur Morti Productions. 

On this their second full length their sound is some what grandiose, definitely hypnotic and harsh as fuck. The band consists of multi-instrumentalist Lauri Laaksonen who's responsible for the guitars, bass, drums and keyboards. I know him from his work in the death metal act DESOLATE SHRINE. Matti Makela is responsible for the vocals and lyrics. Once again I know this guy from his work in the death metal band CORPSESSED. 

So with all that said this duo takes the old 1990's Symphonic BM style and compresses it into something morbid yet classical to a point. The opening piano instrumental piece "Nocturne" is a perfect example of BEETHOVEN deranged. From that point onward it's controlled chaos meets a wall of sound with ice covered tremolo picked riffs, over the top blast beat drum work and some cool sickening and harsh vocals. The keyboard parts are held into the rhythm background. 

The seven cuts on here (six real songs and the above mentioned intro) take the listener to realms where you feel like you've been thrown out into your back yard naked. You're surrounded by hungry wolves held on leashes by black hooded figures who you cannot recognize. Let the raveness torture begin with some synths in the background. In the end you're enveloped by the harsh beauty even with diabolical pain. 

I always say the best BM releases come out when the temperature is low. The past three nights listening to this it's been below freezing after midnight. That's real atmosphere to concern oneself when it comes to Black Metal. I'm enjoying this one a lot in a way that's on a plane of existence. A horrific place where I just can't resist. 

https://www.debemur-morti.com/en/

LISTEN HERE:

https://pestilenthex.bandcamp.com/album/sorceries-of-sanguine-shadow

ARKONA - Stella Pandora review

 

ARKONA - Stella Pandora

Debemur Morti Productions

First off this is ARKONA from Poland and not the Russian band of the same name. As far as this band goes they've been around since the mid-90's. I first got into em in the late 2000's when I picked up their third CD Nocturnal Arkonian Hordes which came out in 2002. I got another release by em, Lunaris, from 2016. Both of those CDs are cool but I never was a completest with this band. 

So here we are with ARKONA's 8th full length and just for the record the band does have a ton of material out their whether it's comps or short form releases. Anyways this Polish band's sound is melodic symphonic black metal. Now if you're probably going "Ah What" then let me explain. For those of us who have been listening to BM for decades we know symphonic black metal has been heavily criticized. I mean the only BM which has gotten worse attacks has been hipster BM which ain't BM at all. But hey it's 2024.

What I like about ARKONA is that they take the old ways of say DARK FUNERAL and DIMMU BORGIR then add in some cool atmosphere instead of the over the top synths or Czech orchestras. Yeah this four piece act is steeped into the late 1990's BM all the way. To me it's cool and comforting. The vocals are harsh. The riffs are punishing as well as icy. The rhythm section is fucking amazing. What synths there are is held so far in the background that they matter little. 

In the end I like this a lot especially listening to it late at night. I give props to the drum work on here because it's savage. The vocals come across as agonizing as well as sorrowful. And the song structures on all six tracks are interesting. Stella Pandora just has a good flow as it plays out. Melodic Symphonic Black Metal ain't a band sub genre anymore.  

https://www.debemur-morti.com/en/

LISTEN HERE:

https://arkona.bandcamp.com/album/stella-pandora

HECATE ENTHRONED - Embrace of the Godless Aeon review

HECATE ENTHRONED - Embrace of the Godless Aeon

M-Theory Audio




Alright so here we have the first HECATE ENTHRONED album in five years. In all honesty I never missed them in the first place. For me this band was a CRADLE OF FILTH clone from the start back in the late 90s. Albeit they were easier to listen to without any goth bile rising up from the back of your throat. I have one release by them that being their full length debut, The Slaughter of Innocence A Requiem for the Mighty, from 1997. I've always like that one. Now I'm not saying I haven't heard anything of their's since. Trust me I have and probably many of you as well. Thankfully I've recovered.


So there's a couple of interesting things going on with this latest one. First off there's a new vocalist, Joe Stamps, who switches off from high harsh hissing screams to gruff death metal growls fairly well. Then there's the addition of Sarah Jezebel Deva of CRADLE OF FILTH helping out on vocals a few times. Even though her haunting singing as well as operatic touches gives things a gothic touch it doesn't ruin a thing. Actually I kinda liked her contribution. Now are HECATE ENTHRONED going to take her out on tour?


Musically since this is symphonic black metal there's plenty of synths used as a backdrop to carry most of the songs along. Sometimes they play a polishing role. I've never been anti-synth use in black metal as long as it's used well in conjunction to the string and percussion instruments. That's a throwback in taste to the early days of this sub-genre. Seeing that HECATE ENTHRONED still has three original members left piloting this new one I'm not surprised at the direction this release takes.


The bottom line here is that Embrace of the Godless Aeon is a trip back to the band's past salad days of the late 90's. But I'll give em their due. It's more like a fresh coat of paint on a classic. I have no doubt early fans of theirs or DIMMU BORGIR holdouts will find this release enticing. Hell maybe even a few EMPEROR fans will check this one out as well. I said a few years ago that the days when symphonic black metal were a curse word to genre stalwarts needs to end. Mainly because I was hearing some decent stuff from the non-mainstream world of metal. This one is a winner but no more bandwagon genre fad jumping please.


https://www.m-theoryaudio.com/

https://hecateenthroned.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HecateEnthroned

VERATRUM - Visioni review

VERATRUM - Visioni

Self Released




The promo info states that this release/band is 'epic metal". Actually this is symphonic blackened death metal which is pretty epic sounding. The music here is explosive. The vocals are hateful and in a way attacking the listener. The riffs are basic power driven stuff but when a lead weaves it's way in then finally there's some beauty revealed. And that was just me describing the opening cut.


VERATRUM are a four piece Italian symphonic black metal act with plenty of attitude to allow some death metal to ride along. Vocal wise it's either vicious venomous blackened rasps or deep throat-ed death metal vocals which at times come forth as a choir. Was this recorded in a church while it was burning to the ground?


What we have here, according to the promo, is VERATRUM's last release (?) Since forming in 2008 the band has put out two full lengths and two EPs, which this is one of em. How could a band like this call it quits? This is like blackened opera. And the guitar leads are fuckin fantastic, the choir vocals (which really sound like Gregorian chants) push it to a new level of epic. Hell if this is their swan song then I say Hell Yeah. Walk away with your heads held high.



https://veratrum.bandcamp.com/album/visioni

https://www.facebook.com/veratrumofficial/

VARGRAV - Netherstorm review

VARGRAV - Netherstorm

Werewolf Records




Last month when I was writing about the latest DIMMU BORGIR release. I mentioned that, and this is paraphrasing it, that they as a band today are irrelevant considering the fact that there are some cool artists doing symphonic black metal again and they're damm good. Case in point, this is the debut full length by Finland's VARGRAV. It's a one man black metal project by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist V-Khaoz.


Now V-Khaoz is certainly not new to the blackened horizon. He's been part of many other bands within the Finnish scene but this one seems to be a labor of love and devotion in a blackened way of course. When it comes to symphonic black metal VARGRAV leans in the direction first explored by EMPEROR years ago during their classic period (aka: In the Nightside Eclipse and Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk).


In other words V-Khaoz is mindful of not overwhelming the sound structure with synths and concentrating on aggressive riffs as well as bombastic approach to song craft. The only lacking here is that his harsh seething vocals are behind everything. Otherwise this is a fantastic sounding symphonic black metal release. V-Khaoz is not being a copy-cat. Instead he's taken an older style and relayed it through his own vision. 


https://werewolfrecords.bandcamp.com/album/netherstorm

https://www.facebook.com/Vargravhatelust/

NEKROKRAFT - Servants review

NEKROKRAFT - Servants 

The Sign Records




Last year while writing about NEKROKRAFT's previous full length I said "Will o´ Wisp is a decent release but I think their next one, hopefully, will be a milestone in that a new band that puts that evil grim grin back on your face because they remind ya of the past without being retro." Well after giving Servants a few listens I will say it's different. But more on that later.


First off NEKROKRAFT are a five piece act from Sweden who've been around since 2012 and have a few releases out. By the way if you wanna check out their past stuff then pick up their Witches Funeral compilation also on The Sign Records. One of their claims to fame is that their vocalist Angus Norder is also the frontman for WITCHERY. Not a bad gig, I'm sure it pays well and you get to play big festivals.


But I'm here to talk about this latest release by a band who has the tagline of being blackened thrash. This ain't blackened thrash. There's keyboards (which were on their last album), galloping rhythms and grandiose blackened song structures. This is full on symphonic black metal here people. Some lay-person will scream DARK FUNERAL and yeah maybe a little but then you're wrong.


Angus Norder, who goes by the name Angst, is a phenomenal vocalist. He's got that harsh blackened vocal sound that carries outward. The band is flat out violent, with accompanying guitar soloing which stems from thrash. There's plenty of blastbeat action, tremolo picked mania and no relief. The nine songs on here keep you at the edge of your seat. To paraphrase what I said last year, it reminds you of the past but NEKROKRAFT are walking their own path. And this is fuckin fantastic.

http://thesignrecords.com/

https://thesignrecords.bandcamp.com/album/nekrokraft-servants

https://www.facebook.com/nekrokraft/

INHIBITIONS - La Danse Macabre review

INHIBITIONS - La Danse Macabre

Satanath Records



For decades now when it came to symphonic black metal it usually took a band of four, five or six members (and sometimes with an orchestra) in order to create a full blown sound. This duo from Greece proves that it's really not the case anymore. With one foot planted in Hellenic black metal and the other in 1990's Norway for influences. INHIBITIONS brings symphonic black metal back into an interesting limelight.

The band consists of Pain on vocals and guitars plus Dimon's Night also on vocals along with guitars, bass, drums and keyboards. Believe it or not this pair have been at it since 2008, releasing three demos sporadically over the years. Then in 2016 they put out their debut full length, Flames of Desolation. As far as this new one is concerned, it's definitely second wave worship going on. The keyboard use is not grandiose nor held in the background. It's basically an integral part of their song craft on multiple cuts.

The same can be said with their use of acoustic guitar which I think is exquisite. Not simply an intro or segue tool, the acoustic guitar lays in on basic rhythms while being accompanied by your basic amplified tools of mayhem. Also INHIBITIONS don't stick to a symphonic black metal genre script. They add in plenty of outside touches like melodic death or gothic doom and gloom. All of which breaks the monotony and it's the same with the duel vocals which mix harsh with death like growls.

Obviously I could make subtle comparisons to past or present existing BM acts but why bother. INHIBITIONS have found a way to carve their own little niche in a sub genre that for years was corrupted by phony bandwagon jumpers or pompous blowhards riding the mainstream bus. Chalk this up to just talent and dedication to the craft which always leads to greatness.

http://www.satanath.com/

https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat185-inhibitions-la-danse-macabre-2018

https://www.facebook.com/INHIBITIONS-Hellenic-Black-Metal-1218975794812167

GRAVESPAWN - Inexorable Grimness review

GRAVESPAWN - Inexorable Grimness 

Folkvangr Records



Whenever I see that a black metal band is from California I look around my desk for a straight razor blade. Seriously, black metal from California? Let me slit my wrists! Like we haven't laughed enough about that one. But hey this is another re-release by Folkvangr Records so given the label's track record for putting out good stuff I give em the benefit of the doubt.

The synth opening on "Old Dragon's Domain" had me thinking Hammer Horror opening trailer intro which in a way was a good sign. From that point onward this Los Angeles, California act shows that they're into the whole symphonic black metal theme. By their second cut, "Oath of the Annihilator", I was thinking Wrath of the Tyrant era EMPEROR. Hyperbole on my part, maybe a bit but the use of the synths, the cool rasp of the vocals and even the tremolo riffs are a reminder of Norway's black metal days of yore. 

This is just a five song EP put out by a band that actually started out as a solo project back in 2004 by multi-instrumentalist Seth Brooke. They're a three piece now, hmmmm? But anyways while any metal media mope might cry "copycat" I say nay since the whole symphonic black metal trend died out in 2009. Also that trend in BM was because of DIMMU BORGIR's popularity. GRAVESPAWN are striving for something more grim and harsh. I expect more greatness from them in the future.


https://folkvangrrecords.bandcamp.com/album/inexorable-grimness

https://www.facebook.com/GravespawnOfficial

NIGHTBRINGER – Terra Damnata review

NIGHTBRINGER – Terra Damnata 

Season of Mist





Even though I own a couple of NIGHTBRINGER releases, the latter ones, I've never written about em. (Maybe I shouldn't be writing about em now.) Basically it all had to do with ill timing. The band started out in 2000 but didn't hit my radar until 2010 with their Apocalypse Sun full length. A year later I took a break from blogging and in that time the band released two more full lengths and a couple of short form releases. Over all that time I've read plenty of reviews, articles, online discussion group postings, etc. about the band. Some of it grounded in reality and other stuff pushing things to the realm of complete ignorance.


Lets get to the basis here shall we? NIGHTBRINGER are, and especially on Terra Damnata, firmly influenced by Scandinavian (at most) black metal. When I listen to this I'm thinking MARDUK, MAYHEM and EMPEROR all got together to put out a super-group collaboration release. Some people might say they have an avant garde approach which later day DEATHSPELL OMEGA employs. That could be true but then again the bottom line is that when the release opens with "As Wolves Amongst Ruins" you're pretty much concentrating on the pummeling effect as the music gallops forward like the four horseman of the apocalypse riding across the land. The so-called esoteric avant garde elements seem so minor that only a hipster douche bag would be overly concerned about em. I push the same point on the second cut "Misrule". 


Seven years ago the mainstream metal media (aka: hipsters) would routinely slag any USBM act that dared to follow the same path that the Scandinavians had already laid forth even if they added to it. In all honesty I never liked any USBM act back in the late 2000s who jumped onto the whole DIMMU BORGIR/CRADLE OF FILTH bandwagon or tried to recreate BURZUM. But while the media elite were slagging certain bands they tried to push other USBM acts that were supposedly "progressive" and "pushing boundaries". The fact is that those hipster acts were not even playing black metal. Then NIGHTBRINGER finally comes into their own and shows that yeah we can push the whole symphonic black metal thing but bring it up to date. So when I continue to listen to this their fifth full length I can honestly say they've reached that plateau. 

I think everything cool about this band and album can fall into one song, "Let Silence be His Sacred Name". It's starts out like a peaceful dream sequence with a somber piano intro. Then it breaks into a nightmarish ferocious blast beated nightmare. You wake up only to find yourself in a occult inspired insane reality. The music takes plunges from the furnace faced riffs into a chasm of despair. I'd would say "atmosphere" but that's hipster speak for "No blast beats/No tremolo picked riffs". You get the idea. Despite the opener, which to me is like Panzer Division Nightbringer, "Let Silence be His Sacred Name" is the finest cut on Terra Damnata. And that might be the release's Achilles Heal. 


While the last three cuts are interesting enough, all of the technical chaos that you've already been subjected to takes a toll on your interest. Only one cut finally breaks the monotony from the rest of the release. That's pretty much the rub. There's a good reason why this sat on the shelf for weeks. When I first got it I gave it one listen then moved on. The second time I played it I didn't even get through it. With all of that said it's still a good release. No doubt it will find it's way on some end of year best of lists.


http://www.season-of-mist.com/

https://www.facebook.com/NightbringerOfficial

https://nightbringer.bandcamp.com/album/terra-damnata

SELVANS - Lupercalia review

SELVANS - Lupercalia  

Folkvangr Records




After listening to this I had a weird thought of what KING CRIMSON's first album, In The Court of the Crimson King, would sound like if it was re-done in a symphonic black metal fashion. Just a crazy thought but anyways at the moment SELVANS are celebrating the release of their live CD, Hirpi, on Avantgarde Music. This one here, Lupercalia, is actually the band's debut full length from 2015 which also came out on Avantgarde Music. Now it's getting the Folkvangr Records reissue on cassette treatment. 

SELVANS, in recording mode, are a two piece symphonic black metal act hailing from Italy. It consists of multi instrumentalist and vocalist Selvans Haruspex and Sethlans Fulguriator on guitar/bass and clean vocals. At times symphonic level is majestic and reaches the point of mid era DIMMU BORGIR minus the addition of the Austrian Philharmonic as session players. The two piece also cuts through the raging tremolo riffing and blast beated drumming style by adding various Italian folk elements. There's acoustic guitar interludes, flute solos over keyboard melodies along with some traditional harsh blackened vocals. 

Overall I thought Lupercalia is a stunning release. Seven years ago you had people mocking this genre. Some points were valid as far bands falling into complacency in creativity, trendiness as well as pushing for more mainstream acceptableness. As far as any other complaints well those people were just morons. For me the past few years has been exciting for the sub-genre and it's bands like SELVANS who are making it that way. We've heard bands in the blackened realm who add something organic and homespun into their sound. Bout damm time the Italians got a good crack at it. 

https://folkvangrrecords.bandcamp.com/music

https://folkvangrrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lupercalia

https://www.facebook.com/templeofselvans