666

This is it, Katharsis really take the crown when it comes true Black Metal these days, hailing from the cold lands of Germany and formed since 1994. Through the years Katharsis have assaulted the world with their sonic terror and Satanic anger, in 2000 they released their first full length, that being none other than the mighty "666". Really it just boils down to the fact that some of my favorite Katharsis tracks and moments can be found here, their "Kruzifixxion" album always taking a close second place, to me songs like Thy Horror and Raped by Demons take the fucking cake. Try getting completely fucking wasted and selfishly blaring this into the night, this will awaken your spirit in a demonic fashion leaving you with a profound sense of hunger and lust. An absolute classic, absolutely mandatory, you need to get this and listen to Thy Horror now. Katharsis will swallow you up and spit out your bones.

1. 666 (Hohelied der Wiedererweckung)
2. Thy Horror
3. Raped By Demons / Massacrament
4. The Black Grail
5. Lunar Castles (Harvest)
6. Nazarene (Into The Flame)

666

Bannschlag

Nebelborn was a side project of Drakh from Katharsis, Bannschlag was the last of the only two demos to exist and was recorded in 2001. This sounds nothing like Katharsis beyond the fact that the vocals are reminiscent or nearly identical, but structurally the music as a whole doesn't relate to Katharsis by any means, this is absolute lo-fi strangeness and an entirely seperate take on evil. This seems to truly be an experiment to Drakh, perhaps to expunge upon these sort of impulses that we have here, and I have to say I was particularly blown away upon discovering this demo this late in the game after claiming Katharsis as one of my favorite black metal bands for so long. The beginning of this demo really sold it for me, there are some odd parts here and there that may be difficult for some to digest but that is to be expected, yet there are also some heinously evil outbursts to be found as well. I really enjoy Nebelborn and I suggest you give it a chance if you enjoy the necrotic.

1. Intro
2. Stahl & Licht
3. Bannshlag
4. Reichskriegsmusik
5. Ghorab Therek (Crystal Dark Mix)
6. Der Wehrvolksleiter
7. Ein Schwarzer Himmel Mir Zum Thron
8. Chorealbegeleitung und Fuge E-Moll

Bannschlag

Draco Sit Mihi Dux

Speaking of Orthodox Black Metal that represents Satan and the ideologies thereof seriously, in the vein of the metaphysic and accurately appropriating it within the realm of death, Ondskapt presents their first full length from 2003, Draco Sit Mihi Dux. In English the title of the album translates to "May the Dragon be my Guide", Ondskapt originate from Sweden, their name roughly means Being Created of Evil. Lyrically they are very interesting to read along to while listening, as I mentioned they are very morbid and continually death focused, to the point of where death becomes a subject of worship itself. The constant intertwining of talk about the Devil and passing through the gates of death alongside the looming and sinister hymns ever present in the layers of guitar truly creates orthodox sounding dark brilliance. This is a classic, the atmospheres here range from harnessing utterly Satanic energy and stretching it out into wails and commands, to collapsing moments of lugubrious despair wrapped in the fog of the dead. This has to be one of my favorites all around, in every aspect... Ondskapt's best.

1. I
2. II
3. III
4. IV
5. V
6. VI

Draco Sit Mihi Dux

Hellegast

Galgeras, hailing from the Netherlands, is an occult black metal band lyrically revolving around black magick, murder, and desecration. Those that were destined to hang in the gallows is what the name Galgeras represents, it's the spirit of all that is vile, crooked, sinister, the heart of the eternal heretic wandering the earth. Hellegast is an absolutely mesmerizing dive into the tumultuous realm of the occult through a black vein of shrouded mystery. Emitting from these four songs on this demo is purely evil magick, black magick, for there is no other way of life for Galgeras, this is the one path. Lo-fi black metal that never loses that touch of mysticism, always guiding you to the light within the darkness. A truly undiscovered gem of a demo, essential.

1. Barashakushu
2. I see All
3. Night Beckons
4. Zwarte Magie handhaaft Karma

Hellegast

First Feast For Freedom

Furze is a rather unique and sometimes even odd sounding black metal project handled by Woe J. Reaper from Norway, Furze supposedly means "Farts" in German, much speculation runs behind the interpretation of this decision. First Feast For Freedom was his first EP released in 2000 after a series of four demos, for some reason I've always favored this album in comparison to his later works and find it to be the ideal Furze release. This EP features a very quick four tracks, all of them being very creative and innovative forms of experimental black metal, supposedly Woe J. Reaper spent three and a half years in the forest to add in further inspiration to his creations and to more importantly seperate himself from the rest. The end result is an extremely warped, almost sarcastic sounding at points, yet, with a weird sense of underlying sinister intention. Ultimately you're left with a drugged up experience of witches cackling and poisonous brew drinking, an esoteric journey into the heart of personal darkness manifest.

1. First Feast for Freedom
2. Zaredoo Knives Endows Thy Sight
3. Zeckra Stigma Diabolicum
4. Fresh Tea!

First Feast For Freedom

L'Élu du Mal

Bekhira recorded L'Élu du Mal in 2005 and limited it to 666 copies, this album is an absolute French classic to me, if we are going to talk about nostalgia here then this is it. For a relatively short period of time I was living in Florida near the Gulf of Mexico, going to school (pissing off all of the conservative assholes there) and absolutely drowning myself in black metal, Bekhira brings me back to walking the streets of the sunshine state and casting my hate upon the region. Regardless of how relevant that is to the readers of the blog (however few there may be) it is one of the reasons I share music here. Bekhira are majestic and captivating in their approach and set a standard for epic black metal in honor of the master, Satan. Highlight tracks include "Send Me Those Evil Words", and "The Devil and the Sorcerer", by far, I highly suggest this one.

1. Send Me Those Evil Words
2. Forgotten Nazarene
3. Medieval Deathcamps
4. The Devil and the Sorcerer
5. Impure Blood Shall Flow
6. Children of All That is Evil
7. A Thousand Demons
8. From the Most Devastated Lands
9. L'Ere Noire...

L'Élu du Mal

Vinterrikets Konge

Skuggeheim plays a very fuzzy and distinctively decrepit form of lo-fi raw black metal in the spirit of the whipping winds of a cold Satanic Winter, both the literal quality as well as the emotive qualities found within these recordings take you to this ancient place. Skuggeheim maintains as a relatively new band to the growing scene yet is able to carry the torch of what they behold as the true old spirit of black metal from times lost, aligning within the expectations of what it means to be minimalist yet energetic and thoughtful at the same time. For fans of tape like quality who appreciate winter-esque black metal in bleak and relentless times such as this.

1. Med Slipte Oekser
2. Vinterrikets Konge
3. Symboler i Snoe
4. Avgrunnen
5. Ulvene Drar
6. Doedens Mellomakt

Vinterrikets Konge