Art in its Blackest form
This album from Ukrainian one man band Käkht Aräkh was already released in 2021, but has been playing since in the Black Forest Magazine camp.
This is one of the most unique black metal albums for years. It definitely has an old school vibe, but this concept album is something to be described as romantic black metal (like black metal could use more sub genres) as it leans on heavy use of melodies and piano. Anyway, it’s interesting and we like it!
Wandering in the night, Pale Swordsman! Ugh!
The masked Portuguese force of darkness has done it again! After releasing three highly acclaimed full length albums they have undoubtly enthroned the metal scene as one of the leading post-black metal acts. This week they struck us with a new video and song of pure display of power!
We are Gaerea!
The Ukrainian black metal act Drudkh has been going on since 2002. Being in the middle of a war they took immidiate actions to release the music video for the song The Nocturnal One, as a sign of Ukrainian resistance. They released the following statement throught their label Season of Mist:
“Even though we weren’t supposed to share any statement or music until later this year, we are grateful to get this new track out here today. It represents HOPE, may it strengthen those who need it.”
Check the video below, and their new album coming later this year.
More news from Drudkh:
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Heard about Gaerea? If the answer is no it’s about time you do. These masked Portugese has just released their new album ‘Limbo’ on Season of Mist, and it’s seriously a masterpiece.
According to themselves Gaerea «… challenges the archetype of black metal, coloring outside of the genre’s lines with melancholy texture and deep emotion». In my opinion Gaerea sounds like a mixture of black metal and post-metal, topped with some Behemoth-like epicness.
I’m pretty sure this band will be on most black metal fans’ lips during 2020, so be sure to check them out. You can listen to the full album below, in one of the coolest looking and most eerie YouTube listening session ever:
Portland based Idle Hands released their debut album ‘Mana’ a year ago. One year earlier they released the 5 track EP ‘Don’t Waste Your Time’.
This EP was according to the band actually going to be a 7 track EP, but they had to skip the last two songs because they ran out of time and money. Now they are ready to release them.
Idle Hands sound reminds me of Swedish bands like Tribulation and especially In Solitude, which unfortunately entered the grave some years ago.
The sound consists of traditional heavy metal with a melancholic and dark atmosphere to it. The songs are catchy and are inviting for singing along. If you are quick you can order the limited edition LP at their label Eisenwald, or listen to it at Bandcamp or other streaming services. Keep looking out for Idle Hands!
Check out the latest music video from occult rock act Lucifer, featuring amongst others Nicke Andersson (Hellacopters, ex-Entombed) and Johanna Sadonis (ex-The Oath).
The Swedes of the post-punk ensemble Alfahanne just released their first song with english lyrics. And it might be their best song to date. It’s darker and more atmospheric than ever before! Look out for their upcoming album Atomvinter, which will be released October 4th on CD and vinyl!
Tracklist:
01 Atomvinter – Feat. Hoest
02 Lovers Against The World
03 Alla Mot Alla – Feat. Nag
04 A Place To Call Home (Ärla Boggie)
05 Sluten Cirkel
06 Sakna Mig Som Om Jag Var Död
07 The Heavy Burden
08 Himlen Kan Vänta
09 En Tight Knut
Japanese artist Sekisadamu has specialized in making pieces of charcoal shaped as skulls. He made some of these for the Wonder Festival, which is festival for sculptors and modelers held in Chiba, Japan. According to the artist the skulls are made of 100% plant based materials.
When he posted a picture of them on Twitter they started to go viral. Eventually he even put up a webshop to sell them, and is currently working on a full size charcoal skull. Unfortunately according to the website he won’t do international orders yet.
A week ago the trailer for the Lords of Chaos film was released, and it has been heavily discussed online. The book with the same name by Didrik Søderlind and Michael Moynihan which the film is based upon also had its controversies after its release in 1997.
I’m not going to discuss the reliability of the story in the plot, but the byline of the movies says it’s “based on truth and lies”. Something which I find fitting since a lot of the narrative back then was just that; based on truth and lies. What struck me though was the authenticity of some of the scenes in the trailer. I quickly recognized some well-known motives throughout the trailer.
Let’s start with this famous promo shot of Euronymous and Necrobutcher. First the original, then from Lords of Chaos.
And this picture of Dead, Hellhammer, Euronymous, and Necrobutcher from backstage at one of their early shows. First the original, then from Lords of Chaos.
The next picture of the early Mayhem lineup clearly inspired a scene in the trailer.
The next picture is a screenshot from an old low quality rehearsal video of Mayhem which clearly was used as a reference for the rehearsal room that is shown in the trailer.
These are just some of the references I found in the trailer. Just from watching the trailer I think they did a good job in reproducing the visuals from the time some of these events happened.
As several scenes from the movie was recorded in Norway, they even used a real Norwegian Stave Church. As a bonus fact from the trailer, this screenshot shows Gol Stave Church on Bygdøy in Oslo. It is most likely being used for depicting Fantoft Stave Church.
The movie will be released February 8, 2019. Let us know what you think about the trailer in the comment section.
Beautifully intense desperation.
That’s the words that comes to mind while listening to this record. With the End in Mind combines soothing instrumental parts with intense atmospheric post-black. And they do it really well.
With the End in Mind were originally formed back in 2010 as a solo project, but “…though initially a solitary, introverted endeavor, musical allies were recruited in 2013”, according to the band’s press letter. Since 2010 they’ve released two EPs and performed several gigs. Now they are ready to release their first album consisting of 5 songs (songs up to 14 minutes long). ‘Unraveling; Arising’ was actually already self-released back in 2016, but will now have an international vinyl release.
If you’re a fan of post-metal and black metal you should check out With the End in Mind. This album surely combines the best from both worlds, accompanied by desperate vocals. Album is out July 6th, 2018 through Sweden’s Temple of Torturous.
Tracklist:
1. Sings The Sky
2. Anguish Symmetry
3. Unraveling; Arising
4. From The True Source
5. Wheeling, Endlessly Wheeling