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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!
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!
New highlight from Norway...for fans of Kaevum/Nordvrede
ringing together two of Finnish black metal hottest / coldest newcomers, Kaksi liekkiä Saatanalle is pure nastiness distilled into 20 tundra-deep minutes; with two songs a piece here, both AESTHUS and SIELUHAASKA delivered debut albums under the banner of PURITY THROUGH FIRE in 2022 and 2023, respectively. AESTHUS are up first, and whip forth the freezing filth which made their Hänen temppelinsä varjoissa so celebrated in the underground. No more but definitely no less, the quintet stick to classic Finnish black metal in the turn-of-the-millennium tradition, here arguably sounding both more melodic and frantic than said debut album. SIELUHAASKA, for their part, put a more measured twist on Finnish black metal - pensive, anguished, and strangely anthemic - with their Kun aurinkoni kuoli debut, and here continue their hypnotic ways with even more anguish and arguably more mesmerizing gait. Almost honorarily Teutonic by design, their folkish fire might remind of Finnish dark horses like Noenum or Mortualia. Kaksi liekkiä Saatanalle proves, once again, it's always darkest up north...
Much as its title forecasts, I Skyggen mellom liv og død
brings together two Norwegian black metal entities: SOLUS GRIEF, with whom PURITY THROUGH FIRE followers should know from their two albums in as many years, and ALTERTUM; both bands' respective mainmen shared a split album, Ulf's Keptr, shared a split year with their other respective bands UNHOLY CRAFT and VORGFANG. Here, SOLUS GRIEF continue their ascent / descent with two 10-minute tracks (and joining instrumental) that see mainman Peregrinus returning to a more anguished, almost-DSBM sound that nevertheless evinces unique traits - among them, a guitar tone alternately rippling / clanging, an attention to ever-so-tense dynamics, and a superbly "live" feel for an otherwise-one-man band. It's unsurprising, then, that these three throwback-to-1995 tracks were written & recorded during this past winter. For his part, ALTERTUM mainman Lord G also wrote & recorded his four tracks here during that same winter, and it shows: a cryogenic blast of ancient northern darkness, violent and spectral in equal measure. It's not so much that these four ALTERTUM songs evoke deja vu - one can hear symphonic shades of very earliest Limbonic Art, Obtained Enslavement, and Norway's Troll as well as the rawest pulse of Hat-era Gorgoroth, the cult Kvist, and even Ulver's Nattens Madrigal - but these blizzard-blown coordinates are rearranged in such a manner that they become a new destination in itself, nostalgic and without time simultaneously. I Skyggen mellom liv og død is against the modern world!
