Opus Eponymous

I bring forth Ghost from Sweden with their first full length from 2010, Opus Eponymous. Formed in 2008, Ghost have been writing and preparing this album from the shadows to finally unleash upon the world a deviously genius Satanic rock and roll record of highest caliber, one that is meant to target a different sort of audience than the already accustomed Satanic crowd that is the current black metal scene today. The band, which consists of several nameless "ghouls", have no shame in admitting their true intentions behind crafting such a brand of music that is meant to attract the rock and metal followers, as they consider their approach to be a subliminal form of brainwashing. Never before has there been a group of this stature and of this quality that speak clearly and communicate distinctly the messages of Satan, as every song featured on this album is oriented around witchcraft, vampyrism, death, Satan, Lucifer, and the Devil, overall. There are no screams to be heard and the music hardly ever gets fast or very aggressive, instead there is an almost pop like sensibility that induces that "catchy" feeling acquired from most mainstream music today, yet with a devilish twist. In terms of image and lyrics Ghost offers nothing beyond the realm of Satanism, which appeals heavily towards my taste and is the true drive behind my obsession with this band. Instrumentally the album has some psychedelic heavy metal moments and at other times sounds more like a link between classic rock and roll and early proto-black metal, the vocals are persistently clean and match the various guitar tones and pitches quite perfectly so I can't blame him for that, however this seems to be the most popular element that initially turns the listener off during their first listen. After digesting these songs once or twice it is extremely enjoyable to go back to this album time and time again with a buzz on to nod your head and sing aloud these utterly Satanic and memorable lyrics. Ghost have made it very easy to buy into their music, and I highly suggest you give Opus Eponymous a chance, it could very easily put you under it's evil spell, as it should. For the interview with Ghost, go: here. Don't take my word on what this band truly represents and stands for, read their own words for what they truly are, there are no secrets here... As rock and roll has always been coined the "Devil's Music", never before has it been so appropriate...


1. Deus Culpa
2. Con Clavi Con Dio
3. Ritual
4. Elizabeth
5. Stand By Him
6. Satan Prayer
7. Death Knell
8. Prime Mover
9. Genesis

Opus Eponymous

Blood Seed

Wolvserpent is an ambient doom metal project from Boise, Idaho, this is their full length, Blood Seed, from 2010. A relatively new band, they had just changed their name from Pussygutt to head into a more serious direction, a mutually agreed upon great decision. The atmosphere created by these two members is the equivalent to a heavy funeral dirge infused with glorious and epic overtones that creep into thick and twisted doom segments. A very dark and gloomy album with some Gothic influences to be found, between the two songs featured here the mood can swing from mournful, ethereal, mystic, macabre, haunting and even crushing. As far as new finds of this year are concerned, I'm hoping that Wolvserpent decides to stick with this name and continue to produce more charged tunes such as the rituals found here on Blood Seed.


1. Wolv
2. Serpent

Blood Seed

Pakt

This is Detritivore from Norway, Detritivore is not a black metal band but rather a unique drone doom project with some ambient influences to be heard as well. Beyond the opening track this is an entirely instrumental release and a strong one at that, the first time I experienced this album from front to back I was heavily entranced and found myself adrift in a sea of my own subconscious. The term detritivore, also known as detritus feeders, refers to that of worms and other creatures that consume organic matter and aid in decomposition... quite appropriate. This is the album you've been looking for that you can completely zone out to and lose a good chunk of time without realizing it, as the tracks on this record are very successful at dissolving the consciousness.


1. Postludium
2. Lutring
3. Messe
4. Undergang
5. Pakt
6. Finale

Pakt

El-Ahrairah

El-Ahrairah are a three piece black metal band from Minnesota, I present to you their self titled demo from 2009. Lyrically, El-Ahrairah are inspired by native American folklore but revolve even heavier around the book Watership Down by Richard Adams, which is essentially a political allegory wherein rabbits take on an anthropomorphic role that involves a heavy usage of symbolism to communicate ideas of environmentalism and anti-authoritarian ideals. The actual sound on this demo is perfectly low passed and offers that genuinely comfortable tape sounding quality, the songs themselves are structured in a less orthodox fashion than most black metal on this blog. Noisey, yet fully capable of achieving those majestic tones beneath the fuzz and static.The emotive quality captured here is both provocative as it is utterly passionate.


1. Fauna
2. Flora
3. Llands

El-Ahrairah

Passages Nocturnes

Considered as a side project of Voqkrre, whom I've already posted here on the blog and features two members, Drakonhail is only one of the members, Dunkel. For those already familiar with the French vermin that is Voqkrre, you will surely notice the voice in these recordings, yet will be quite pleased with the variations of riffs featured here in these four tracks. Once you've listened to the entire first song and have finally fallen into the appropriate state of mind, my favorite song kicks in, Le Souffle Distant de la Nuit (The Distant Breath of the Night). This is the kind of stuff that has me coming back to French black metal time and time again, it's the attitude and the intentions of the artist. I can empathize with this sort of black metal, it's a shame I can't find his older material... get this.


1. Dans la Forêt aux Accès Ténébreux
2. Le Souffle Distant de la Nuit
3. Lorsque les Chants de la Nuit Émergent dans la Brume
4. Cold Black Metal Hymn

Passages Nocturnes

Beneath Silent Faces

Maintaining the same depressive nature of the previous post this is Elysian Blaze, another one man black metal band, this time from Australia. Beneath Silent Faces is from 2004 and has since been re-released with extra material such as the last track here, Despair. This is truly one of those albums to put you in the darkest mood and to keep you there for a long, long time. In this way, the songs and emotions crafted here on this demo are very successful in their ability to capture a truly macabre environment. Elysian Blaze has some great material beyond this demo, but there is a genuine unique quality to this one that I am really attracted to, a beautiful sadness.


1. Anvil Chorus
2. Prophecy of Misery
3. A Constellation of Souls
4. The Thorned Tongue of Requiem
5. Beneath Silent Faces
6. Dark are My Nights
7. Despair

Beneath Silent Faces

A Sermon in the Name of Death

Since 1995, Xasthur has been producing black metal here in the United States, based in California but as of recently has decided to call it quits. When it comes to Xasthur I feel as if the introduction isn't necessary, so I will spare the obvious, as it stands I have already chosen an unheard of and rare demo from his discography... hence there being no artwork to gaze upon. A Sermon in the Name of Death was a demo from 2004 featuring three beautiful and trance inducing songs in the vein of gloom and death. Each song on here is incredibly catch and can play over in the mind if it sinks in correctly, but if I had to choose a favorite, it wouldn't be hard and I would immediately go with the closer... The Funeral of Being. Most people haven't heard the song The Funeral of Being, just the album, and I've always cherished this little gem... maybe someone out there will enjoy it as much as I have these past six years or so...


1. A Sermon in the Name of Death
2. Soul Abduction Ceremony
3. The Funeral of Being

A Sermon in the Name of Death

Cold Ways

On behalf of the entity known as Malefic Mist, I present to you a split with Apathia, titled Cold Ways. Released in August of 2009, and limited to 333 tape copies. I don't care so much for the second side, but the first side of this split rules, hence where this review is going. A sir Mors Taetra from Italy is the sole individual behind this project, focusing on lyrical themes such as fog, winter, necrophilia, and depression, with a sound to match. The quality of this tape is fucking superb, as it obtains all of those warping and textural but subtle nuances that create the overall magic we have come to love when it comes to atmospheric demos such as this. A melodic but repetitive black metal demo that is as full of despair as it is necrotic anguish... A must.

Malefic Mist
1. Funebre Notte Di Ghiaccio
2. Lupi Nella Nebbia
3. Richiamo Di Nebbia Invernale
4. Inverno Di Zyklon-B
Apathia
5. Lost Memories
6. Daylight
7. Lifeless
8. Sepulcrum
9. Daylight (Live)

Cold Ways

Sterrenpracht

Ghremdrakk is a Belgian black metal band formed in 2002, Sterrenpracht is their first demo from 2005, the title translating to "Splendour of the Stars". This is another demo I could have posted months ago when I first started this blog, regardless, Sterrenpracht has to be one of my favorite demos. Without a lengthy introduction the album immediately kicks off with the highlight track, "De Sfeer Van Daath", a nearly thirteen minute journey into death and glory. There are some amazing moments to be found in this album, but I can't help to be so partial to the first song, there are two other tracks to follow that I find to be successful as well. With lyrical themes dealing with Satanic devotion and death worship, the focus of this group is very concentrated and pure, the way black metal is supposed to be. I highly recommend this album to all fans of black metal wide and far, especially those with occult interests and an undying devotion to Satan... As quoted from the text in the inlay: "Black Mystic Art Glorifying His Mystery And Embodying Sacred Darkness".


1. De Sfeer Van Daath
2. Doodsbidders
3. Geselvaart
4. Doorheen De Nevel Der Sterren
5. Nachtelijke Fanfare
6. Wegen Onzer God
7. Naar De Kring
8. Craeyeveld

Sterrenpracht

Dawn That Shall Never Be Seen

When it comes to demos, especially those pertaining to the initial debut of the artist, you end up with either a mistake or an experience that stays genuine to the spirit it was meant to portray. In this case, Kadotus released this demo in 2002 as their first, and in my humble opinion it may as well be their best demo to date. Three really quick songs featured here, the first and last of which being my personal favorites, with emphasis on the final track. I've featured Kadotus earlier on this blog, but in retrospect I found this to be a better display of their sinister aura, a solid demo.


1. Vulture
2. Dawn That Shall Never Be Seen
3. Ikuisuuden Surma

Dawn That Shall Never Be Seen

Ungeziefer

Sadly, I avoided posting this for the sheer fact that I can name about five different blogs that have already featured this, yet at the same time I have been listening to this demo for so long that I couldn't avoid it any longer. "Ungeziefer" is the only demo thus far for Cendres, a one man black metal project from France, Cendres is French for "ashes". This is a very trance inducing demo and accomplishes such through decadent atmospheres that range from warping darkness to beautiful isolation, in particular the outro to the title track is quite stunning. The album immediatelty catches you from the start, and the entire journey is filled with nightmares that are both rotting and breathing with sickness. This is seriously a must for fans of misanthropic and obscure black metal.

1. Aliénation
2. Libération de l'âme
3. Ruine
4. La troublante danse du pendu
5. Ungeziefer

Ungeziefer

Some Thousand Lies

It isn't often that I post an album from this year, but considering how goddamn good this is, I have to introduce this 2010 release. Winter Funeral is a two piece black metal band from France, formed in 1996, this is their newest full length titled Some Thousand Lies. An idealistic display of French black metal that is both provoking and epic, if you can't hear the power behind these riffs, than you're... just an idiot, really. This is what I desire in black metal anymore, and honestly Winter Funeral really pulls it off and makes the whole experience shine with force. The inside of the booklet states: "We are nothing, nobody, we do not exist! Do not try to contact us!" Those words alone exemplify their worth, as the proof is here within these tunes, this is true underground the way it was meant to be... for Satan.

1. Some Thousand Lies

2. The Curse of Annihilation

3. Messe for a Mass Grave

4. Ceremonial Prologue

5. Ceremonial Part I

6. The One Against Christianity

7. Ceremonial Part II

Some Thousand Lies

Somber Deathwinds

Morthond is a one man black metal project handled by a figure known as Thorstadt, located here in the U.S., formed in 2001 this is his first full length from 2002 entitled Somber Deathwinds. Contrary to the majority of what I choose to post here on the blog, Morthond revolves lyrically around paganism and depression, yet the music featured on here is very suitable to the tastes of Nacht und Nebel. This is one of those bands that ride the fine line between black metal and depressive black metal in a way that is as adequate as it is appropriate. Originally I heard the title track "Somber Deathwinds" from the 2003 Empire of Hate/Morthond split, from which at that point I was sold, so I traced the bands steps backwards to discover this. The quality from the split is much more lo-fi, surprisingly, than this full length as the production is fairly clear. To me this is all about the title track, it's very catchy and simply beautiful to my ears... This release will be particularly favored over the black metal community whom enjoy tasting despair...

1. Prelude
2. Somber Deathwinds
3. The Wandering Apparition
4. Descending...
5. Lost in the Fog of Dissonance

Somber Deathwinds

Ézléýfbdréhtr Vépréùb Zùérfl Màzàgvàtre Érbbédréà

Surprisingly this is my first Moëvöt post thus far, and for those unfamiliar to the name Moëvöt or even the French black metal circle known as the Les Legions Noires, I bring you Ézléýfbdréhtr Vépréùb Zùérfl Màzàgvàtre Érbbédréà. When it comes to Moëvöt you realize that not only is this an acquired dark taste but people either consider this to be one of an extreme, it either comes off as scary to some, dumb to others, crazy to few, and genius to the initiated... I happen to be the ladder. This particular demo tape was released December 11th of 1994, also referred to as "The Coma Tapes", there is also a 24 track version of this album (both of which are included). In my opinion you can't really go wrong with Moëvöt, and once you become familiar with his style, aesthetic, and approach, you will come to hunt down all of his demos. Yet with that said, if I were to make an initial sort of first impression on anyone dealing with Moëvöt, I am immediately finding myself leaning more towards this release than any other. There are some really amazing moments here, some of these songs are just pure gems. I absolutely and highly recommend at least giving The Coma Tapes a chance, this is the occult.

1. Der Glockenturm I 2. Reflexion/Abjuration 3. Yatr Mazagvatre Erbbedrez 4. Fin De Nuit 5. Tagesanbruch 6. Larmes Crepusculaires 7. Die Dämmerung 8. Yatr Vazbagraehbbe 9. Brumes 10. Nie 11. Der Glockenturm II Ézléýfbdréhtr Vépréùb Zùérfl Màzàgvàtre Érbbédréà

Døden...

Nortt released this particular demo in October of 1998, Døden is slightly different than the average Nortt album, the main reason being the vocals featured here are whispered throughout and never does he exceed beyond this point. Furthermore, the production of this demo has a unique sort of dryness to it that is both hypnotizing as well utterly lifeless. Nortt is handled by one man, a Mr. Nortt from Denmark, perfecting his self proclaimed style of "pure depressive black funeral doom metal" throughout the years. The three bleak songs here, excluding the synth introduction, paint a bleak portrait of a dead landscape littered with tombstones in the autumn cold. In my personal opinion I give credit to Nortt for his sheer ability to drain the listener of all vitality and energy as opposed to the opposite. The time period this took place in, as well as the pure necrotic haze this demo offers, is reason enough for me to suggest this...


1. Dødens Indtræden

2. Døden...

3. Intethedens Morke

4. Evig Hvile

Døden

Demo 1996

I first posted Bekhira in March with their last full length from 2005, I now return in August to introduce their original demo from 1996 to this blog. French black metal tends to have a certain style or specific aura to it and this demo is a perfect example of how well black metal can age, like some fine blood red wine. This to me showcases most of what I want to hear in black metal as it is absolutely brimming with Satanic spirit and determination, all the while pulsing with a melodic but glorious hatred. Keeping this a fairly short post I'll merely say that I highly recommend getting this demo and allowing it to rise within you so that it may stoke the fires of Hell.

1. The Grand Evil Spirit
2. Utopian Millennium
3. The Hunt of the Garwells
4. Gas the Christ

Demo '96

Genevieve

Genevieve is one of those albums that has and will continue to stand the test of time for years to come. Velvet Cacoon is one of the more ambiguous and mysterious U.S. black metal bands that has been creating controversy and rumors, so many so and for so long, that tracking their history and getting into those details may become confusing when separating fact from fiction. Beyond all of the confusion and unnecessary personal details we eventually find the core of Velvet Cacoon as two beings based in Portland that go by the name Josh and Angela. Listening to Velvet Cacoon can be addicting, which is fitting considering their lyrical themes and overall intention is to create a drug induced atmosphere. With lyrical themes consistently being drug trips, the inspiration here is to create the matrix in which to get lost in during ones next plateau, and out of all of the bands going with this approach Velvet Cacoon has held the torch for some time now and with a horde of imitators following behind at that. I had to post this album, no this isn't new and no this isn't necessarily underground anymore, per say, but it holds a place in my heart that is full of nostalgia and brimming with empathy for the tones portrayed here. Josh has been known to say that Velvet Cacoon is an example of what happens to someone who does too many drugs, they have an album previous to this named Dextronaut, named after the drug Dextromethorphan which is found in cough medicines such as Robitussin maximum strength. Not to drag this on, but there isn't a bad song on this album, it is one of those albums you have to play from the beginning and allow it to consume you. I've said it out loud that if I ever had a daughter I would shamelessly be willing to name her Genevieve, listen to the song Genevieve and maybe you will get a glimpse at just why. This could be on my top ten list of black metal albums if there ever were such a thing, so without further adieu, please listen to Genevieve.

1. 1

2. P.S. Nautical

3. Avalon Polo

4. Laudanum

5. Fauna & Flora

6. Genevieve

7. Bete Noir

Genevieve

Caduceus Chalice

The entire time that I was basking in the solitude that only the North can provide, what was I listening to during my wanderings ? Moon. If someone were to literally ask me what black metal sounds like, assuming they have no expectations whatsoever, I could very well play a track by Moon to simply portray how I feel black metal is "supposed" to sound. Caduceus Chalice is the latest release for this Australian occultist, and in my humble opinion it serves up his greatest works to date. I would go as far to say that Caduceus Chalice is the best release of any black metal band from 2010, this is seriously that good to me. The intro places you right into the heart of the dark and brooding nature that is the nocturnal state of being, flowing into the hymn to Hallows Eve, Forest Samhain... which is aesthetically perfect to a person like me. The most immersive track on the album, however, is the closer... Chalice, which offers 20 minutes worth of the most hollow and crawling opus to the tools of the arte magickal. I would honestly wake up in the morning to put headphones on, walk through the woods listening to the song Chalice, all while smoking a fat spliff to match... all while absorbing the beauty of the microcosm within and the macrocosm without. This is essential to all fans of occult black metal, to those who live and die to merely dwell among the mists and the fog.

1. In Shadow

2. Forest Samhain

3. Beneath

4. Monastery

5. Caduceus
6. Chalice

Caduceus Chalice

Funeral Black

This is Bahimiron from 2002 with their first demo limited to 50 tapes and 150 cds. Bahimiron is a native black metal band from Texas, in all honesty I used to enjoy their latter material but as time progressed it became less interesting to me, going back and tracing their steps leads you to this gem. Funeral Black, for a lack of a better term, fucking kicks ass. This shit is real, pure, and raw black metal, and it rules. The quality is harsh and degrading the whole time, the most peculiar portion being the drums which are featuring heavy reverberation sounds from the crashes, the guitars are pushed way back and emerge from time to time, and the vocals are just fucking absolutely perfect. I was going to try to keep this post short and simple to exemplify how solid, and quick, of a demo this is, so without going on about it any longer just fucking get this, its fucking mediafire for fucks sake! You have nothing to lose. Mandatory.

1. Thy Cursed Flame
2. Funeral Black
3. Blood From An Open Wound

Funeral Black

Trouble

Wolfshade is one man depressive black metal band handled by Kadhaas, from France, this is his second full length "Trouble" from 2008. Kadhaas plays a very distinct and instrumental version of epic depressive black metal, with the drums being programmed much emphasis is placed onto the guitars and this is exactly where he succeeds as the riffs here are emotive and top notch. The absolute winner and standout track is "La Mort", hands down. I can come back to that song in particular time and time again and continue to feel touched by its beautiful sounds. In summation, that's what this album sounds to me, I happen to relate these sort of melodies as being beautiful and sorrowful at the same time, maybe that's the key... either way this is an instant classic.

1. L'Etre

2. La Passion

3. L'Isolement

4. La Mort
5. A L'Aube Du Temps

Trouble