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By now, GOATS OF DOOM should require no introduction. Since their formation in 2008, they've remained one of the Finnish underground's best-kept secrets, largely because of a somewhat misleading moniker, but make no mistake: GOATS OF DOOM are 100% black metal through and through. Their stout catalog has seen the band develop from a synth-based style of black metal during their first three albums; then, with an expansion from a trio to quintet, GOATS OF DOOM truly began their ascent with 2018's Rukous, where an uptick in aggression melded with the mysterious atmosphere of old. Aligning with PURITY THROUGH FIRE in 2020 for Tie on hänen omilleen, GOATS OF DOOM finally seemed to have gotten their due or at least raised their profile - not for nothing, that, as Tie on hänen omilleen was arguably the band's most powerful 'n' poignant record to date. But, a year later came the eclipsing Shiva, where they unloaded anthem after anthem, proving that the metal can be kept firmly within black metal without sacrificing its mystical powers.
Following something of a respite - unusual for the band, given the feverish release rate at which they operated since 2015 - GOATS OF DOOM return refreshed and recharged with INRI. The Finns' seventh full-length thus far, INRI is a rather unique entry in their gem-laded catalog: initially beginning as a disarmingly raw affair, the album soon opens up into a bountiful feast of alternately asskicking / ethereal black METAL. GOATS OF DOOM unload the entirety of their arsenal here - charging-hard speed, Bathorian gallop, medieval triumph, and pagan hymnal, all with a pronounced emphasis on melancholic, distinctly Finnish melodicism - and really give rise to heroic heavy metal leads, which seem strangely out of character for cold & raw black metal, but their burning-hot touch eventually melts the ice and floods the heart with emotion or at least reflection. The cleaner, choir-style vocals also aid this lateral move, imbuing INRI with a soaring / ascending sensation - or, again, ethereal in many senses of the word - that's absolutely perfect for the album's unique production style. As ever, when GOATS OF DOOM wanna get going, they kick ass with the best of 'em and exude charisma every step of the way; it's just that they're here able to incorporate more acoustic passages without losing steam, which also goes for album's track sequence, closing out the latter third of it in epic fashion. Thus, INRI is yet another triumph of ANTHEMIC black metal heroism: bow before these GOATS of greatness!
Since 2011, ÚLFARR have stood for uncompromising, antisocial UK black metal - or, under their own banner of Cumbrian Black Metal. Helmed by Dominus, AKA Hrafn - who counts the equally prolific THY DYING LIGHT amongst his activities, as well as fellow labelmates NEFARIOUS DUSK and MORTE LUNE - ÚLFARR released a handful of demos, a couple splits, and most uniquely, a couple live albums before their debut mini-album, Hate & Terror - The Rise of Pure Evil, in 2019 and then another mini-album, The Ruins of Human Failure, two years later. Most recently, they released a split album with fellow UK horde MALFEITOR. Across these caustic recordings, ÚLFARR stoked the fires of old - namely, classic Craft, Darkthrone, Mayhem, One Head One Tail, and Death Cult.
Now ÚLFARR return with a revamped lineup and a revamped sound on their long-awaited debut album, Orlegsceaft. Joining Dominus here are erstwhile Exvoidxist / Forvitnast vocalist Játvarðr, HELVELLYN's Burns on bass, and MALFEITOR maiman Nosdrahcir on drums. As no doubt forecasted by its title, Orlegsceaft is written almost entirely in Old English, and most suitably do ÚLFARR shift gears toward a grim & ancient style of black metal. Whereas their sound of yore spit forth a hateful primitivism both punkish and headbanging, this older & bolder ÚLFARR take that hate toward more desolate and hypnotic ends; atmosphere is heightened, ghoulish and GRIM in aspect. In effect, Orlegsceaft undeniably sounds OLD(e), like a long-lost recording from 1995 given undead life through ghostly means. It's still recognizably ÚLFARR, but their attack cruises more cooly here and the vocals of Játvarðr raise the hackles with full-throated terror. And fucking RIFFS forever!
Against the modern world, more than ever, ÚLFARR take UKBM back to the dark ages with Orlegsceaft.
The work of one Alexis Chiambretto, UNHOLDUN made their public debut in 2022 with a self-titled EP through PURITY THROUGH FIRE. At the time, the mainman modestly said, "I didn't try to revolutionize black metal with this EP; it's more like 'a tribute' to the good, old black metal. So, I would like to feel a little bit the '90s vibe, even in the artwork." Nevertheless, Unholdun's pleasures were simple but sublime, exhibiting a sweepingly melodic surge that favorably recalled the Québec scene that's made waves in the underground for the past couple decades.
While Chiambretto still calls France his home (and he's here joined by session drummer Rémi Serafino), UNHOLDUN's sound has become bigger and bolder with Fœhn, the band's full-length debut. The unadorned and awe-inspiring cover artwork spells out the magick of Fœhn in no uncertain terms: epic, expansive, elemental, but frighteningly focused. UNHOLDUN's template hasn't changed so much as the execution of such has. Electric, exciting, restlessly roiling but ripping with a joie de vivre that's impossible not to get windswept up by, paradoxically, the band's influences are more upfront and yet relatively more varied - classic Arckanum, late '90s Darkthrone, similarly late '90s Kampfar, 2000s Khold, first-era Deathspell Omega, all templars of BLACK METAL all unbounded in approach - but Chiambretto manages to mix & mince those various DNA in such a manner that what emerges is idiosyncratic and infectious. Pushed to greatness by powerful production that's clear, gritty, and wholly human, Fœhn has all the hallmarks of a quiet triumph. Face towering solitude and explore the peaks with UNHOLDUN!
Despite only forming in 2023, Norway's UNHOLY CRAFT have already released two full-lengths as well as a split with VORGFANG - all in their first year. Such feverish activity, however, is not all that surprising when it comes to Peregrinus, who also numbers such concurrent cults (and labelmates) SOLUS GRIEF, KVAD, HJEMSØKT, and most recently HERALDIC BLAZE among his many endeavors. As always with UNHOLY CRAFT, the intention is to play super-traditional Scandinavian black metal as it was performed ("exclusively") during the glorious 1990s.
And so, unsurprisingly (thankfully!), that is what one gets with UNHOLY CULT's third full-length, Saa Mørkt, Saa Mektig...or is it? A relatively unique entry in UNHOLY CULT's canon, Saa Mørkt, Saa Mektig features more fleshed-out songwriting transposed onto the band's rawest soundfield to date. Indeed, where their previous records featured that cold & clipped style of production endemic to Norway in the mid '90s, Saa Mørkt, Saa Mektig maintains a muffled, daresay warmer style of recording which helps elevate these more anguished & yearning compositions far beyond those treading the "raw black metal" Bandcamp boards. Deft shifts in tempo further help these eight new tracks hit harder, and when a simultaneously ascending / descending riff yawns forth from that void, the sum effect is stultifying. Thus, all told, while UNHOLY CRAFT continue to add to the hallowed tradition of Darkthrone's Peaceville trilogy, Hat-fronted Gorgoroth, and the first Ancient album - or, going deeper, the very cult likes of Kvist, Sorhin, and Fimbulwinter - Peregrinus and company are taking subtly bolder strides into their own mythical snow with Saa Mørkt, Saa Mektig.
"So cold and full of splendor retracing steps to that which once was. Across frozen ground. Towards That which beckons and pulses in darkness. Swayed by that which befell all. Those that dwell beyond the reach of light. Night skies conquering, looming, over bleeding daylight."
Despite only forming in 2023, Norway's UNHOLY CRAFT have already released two full-lengths as well as a split with VORGFANG - all in their first year. Such feverish activity, however, is not all that surprising when it comes to Peregrinus, who also numbers such concurrent cults (and labelmates) SOLUS GRIEF, KVAD, HJEMSØKT, and most recently HERALDIC BLAZE among his many endeavors. As always with UNHOLY CRAFT, the intention is to play super-traditional Scandinavian black metal as it was performed ("exclusively") during the glorious 1990s.
And so, unsurprisingly (thankfully!), that is what one gets with UNHOLY CULT's third full-length, Saa Mørkt, Saa Mektig...or is it? A relatively unique entry in UNHOLY CULT's canon, Saa Mørkt, Saa Mektig features more fleshed-out songwriting transposed onto the band's rawest soundfield to date. Indeed, where their previous records featured that cold & clipped style of production endemic to Norway in the mid '90s, Saa Mørkt, Saa Mektig maintains a muffled, daresay warmer style of recording which helps elevate these more anguished & yearning compositions far beyond those treading the "raw black metal" Bandcamp boards. Deft shifts in tempo further help these eight new tracks hit harder, and when a simultaneously ascending / descending riff yawns forth from that void, the sum effect is stultifying. Thus, all told, while UNHOLY CRAFT continue to add to the hallowed tradition of Darkthrone's Peaceville trilogy, Hat-fronted Gorgoroth, and the first Ancient album - or, going deeper, the very cult likes of Kvist, Sorhin, and Fimbulwinter - Peregrinus and company are taking subtly bolder strides into their own mythical snow with Saa Mørkt, Saa Mektig.
"So cold and full of splendor retracing steps to that which once was. Across frozen ground. Towards That which beckons and pulses in darkness. Swayed by that which befell all. Those that dwell beyond the reach of light. Night skies conquering, looming, over bleeding daylight."
Black Vinyl
It was but March 2021 when Austria's AUSSICHTSLOS burst from the void, fully formed, with their Völlig Aussichtslos debut album. Remarkably assured, classically inclined, the power-trio presented grim, harsh, but oft-hard-rocking black metal that favorably recalled the post-Strength & Honour landscape of Finland as well as ancient-days Germania ala Luror, Wolfsmond, and Hellfucked. Six months later, AUSSICHTSLOS amazingly released another full-length, Einsicht. While it was chronologically their second album, Einsicht was actually recorded in 2020, before the release of Völlig Aussichtslos took place. Either way, between the two records did AUSSICHTSLOS show themselves as new contenders in austere black metal classicism, capable of tradition but also thought-provoking lyrics reflecting upon inner struggles so universal to the human experience.
And so it goes with Schicksalstotschlag, arguably AUSSICHTSLOS' most desperate record yet. While it may've been quiet on the Austrian front the past few years, that does nothing to dim the fire of their third full-length: Schicksalstotschlag is at once urgent and reserved, violently passionate but poised and stoic - and of course, as anthemic as ever. Not for nothing is PURITY THROUGH FIRE known as the stronghold of Teutonic steel, its sword-wielders capable of a catchiness as wild and windswept as any biergarten, and AUSSICHTSLOS keep apace on Schicksalstotschlag, keeping the riffs rocking as ever and the heart enflamed with emotion. Their production, as always, is on the palatable side of "polished," crisp and clean and gleaming with steely-eyed pride, making these nine songs the penultimate in battle-charging bombast and ballast. Credit new drummer Kartharziss (who also provides tasteful synths) with that proud pulse, although vocalist / lyricist Norsk (unchain his heart!) and fellow six-stringer Garst hold their own and help make the closing nine-minute epic "Hochverrat" the band's best track to date. Black metalsmiths of destiny, unite again for Schicksalstotschlag!
