Kuilu – Monumentti (Black Metal)

Finland, a land of a thousand lakes but also a land that many says have a bit of a melancholic feel to it. It’s dark, gloom environments and weather can do that to a person. Kuilu knows this all too well and their black metal can only be described as melancholic black metal at it’s finest. If I didn’t know any better I would have had a hard time telling this is a debut album because this seems to be the work from seasoned musicians. Formed in 2010 Kuilu have certainly bided their time and honed their craft to create a well written debut that I’ve revisited many times by now. At first I wasn’t in the right state as I was expecting more furious and heavy hitting black metal in the veins of Sargeist or Baptism. While Monumentti wasn’t that at all I came back to it only weeks later, had a new mindset, and found the doom elements, dark and melancholic tones along with the fitting vocals to be nothing but great. Think more Wayfarer and Uada type of black metal and you’re way closer than your “typical” Finnish black metal acts.

This is an atmospheric album that pulls you in if you let it. It might take a few listens but I’ve come to really enjoy Monumentti and as it is right now it stands as one of my favorite black metal albums released this year. Hopelessness, a melodic and melancholic void that’s really sweet music to the ears if you’re in the right mindset. The guitar work especially is something I need to highlight. It’s really captivating and one of the main reasons I enjoy spinning this album from time to time. Kuilu showcase a style of black metal I find very fitting for a Finnish band and they definitely go straight to the higher tiers within this realm of black for me alongside previously mentioned bands Wayfarer and Uada. Question is of course if they can do an equally good or even better album next time around (something for example Uada in my opinion failed to do). One of the best debut albums this year that challenging the listener and worth revisiting many times. Hopefully it doesn’t take eight years for a new full-length but word on the street is they are working hard on their second album already! From now on I will also include the Spotify links in my reviews if I can as sometimes I review an album before it’s out or it’s not on Spotify.

Label: Deviant Records
For fans of: Wayfarer and Uada
Release date: May 5th, 2018
Favorite song: Sisyfos
Score: 4/5

Nordland – European Paganism (Pagan/Black Metal)

From England there is a solo project made by Vorh called Nordland which has been a rather active force since the formation in 2011. The self-titled debut in 2012 was well received and Nordland has since managed to release two more full-length albums and an EP prior to European Paganism. One would think with so many releases it might be more quantity than quality, however Vorh has done well maintaining a quite high level on his albums. European Paganism being no different of course.

Nordland’s Pagan ways are something a lot of metalheads are sure to enjoy, me included. With a 27 minute opener (!) in The Mountain the journey starts on this concept album that takes us through epic landscapes. What a journey it becomes, I get a lot of vibes from one of my favorite black metal albums last year. Namely Old Souls by Wayfarer. Cold and stony mountains, nature, paganism and an journey through the old ways is what Nordland offers. While it’s nothing new and something Nordland has done in the past it has to be said this is his best work yet. The primal sound, great song-writing and atmosphere this album creates is sweet music to my ears.

It doesn’t captivate me as much as Wayfarer’s album did last year (they do differ a bit in sound to be honest) but I had a good time on this journey. An experience the more atmospheric and pagan black metal fans should grab to get their fill. Vorh is impressing me with his continuous good releases, growing slightly each time.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Nordland-407362792653859
Label: Satanath Records and More Hate Productions
For fans of: Wayfarer and Winterfylleth
Favorite song: A Burning of Idols
Score: 3/5

Pure Wrath – Ascetic Eventide (Atmospheric Black Metal)

Indonesia is not a country I think of when looking at atmospheric black metal. However Pure Wrath are sure to make both me and many others change their views on where great atmospheric black metal is produced from. Pure Wrath started as solo project in 2014 by Januaryo Hardy (aka Ryo). Energized by the essence of Earth, including nature, vision, and the call of solitude Ryo set off to create the Pure Wrath of nature itself in musical form. The end result is nothing short but greatness, a wonderful debut that will surely make a mark in the atmospheric black metal scene.

Pure Wrath brings a lot of energy and the use of various sounds and instruments (such as flute and piano) to create different emotions to the listener is wonderfully put together on Ascetic Eventide. The tracks really catches the atmosphere just like their names implies. Colourless Grassland feels desolate but yet calm and one with nature, Mountain Calls feels cold, harsh and barren (takes me back to the whole Wayfarer experience I had last year). This feeling of solitude and being one with nature that Ryo wanted to capture the essence off with Ascetic Eventide he has really achieved. It’s epic and raw, just like nature itself.

Ascetic Eventide is a work of art and stands tall in the vast atmospheric black metal discography that’s out there. I look forward to hear more from Pure Wrath in the future, until then I am more than happy to have one of this years big surprises on repeat when I want my mind to wander away and try to become one with nature. Pure Wrath’s debut album Ascetic Eventide is out now through Hitam Kelam Records.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/purewrath
For fans of: Saor and Wayfarer
Favorite song: Clouds Retiring

The Metal Gamer Top 20 Albums of 2016

Just in time for Christmas I’ve made my choice of 2016’s best albums. The only rule I have to be in this list is that the album has to have been reviewed this year by me. Meaning, even if I love the album, no Jomsviking by Amon Amarth, Magma by Gojira or no King by Fleshgod Apocalypse for example. Reason I started this blog was initially because I wanted to use my English more and I have friends asking me for new bands quite often, hence I stick to the lesser known bands out there and will continue to do so. They are by no means any worse though, as a matter of fact all these bands should be known by every metalhead out there! Anyways without further ado here you have my top 20 albums for 2016 (in no order).

Krepitus – The Eyes of the Soulless
Wastewalker – Funeral Winds
Nordjevel – Nordjevel
Gatecreeper – Sonoran Depravation
Fimbultyr – Niddikter
I Shall Devour – The Misanthropist
Wayfarer – Old Souls
Netherbird – The Grander Voyage
Saor – Guardians
Uada – Devoid of Light
Ereb Altor – Blot – Ilt – Taut
Volturyon – Cleansed by Carnage
Centinex – Doomsday Rituals
Shokran – Exodus
Dawn of Demise – The Suffering
Hyperion – Seraphical Euphony
Illdisposed – Grey Sky over Black Town
October Tide – Winged Waltz
Be’lakor – Vessels
Whispered – Songs of the Void

Last of all I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you next year and stay metal!

Lascar – Absence (Post-Black Metal)

Lascar is a one man band from Chile made by Gabriel Hugo two years ago with Absence being Hugo’s full-length debut. The album is 34 minutes long and consists of four tracks. Abscene takes a very atmospheric post-black metal road and you can definitely draw influences towards Ghost Bath and Wayfarer in both the sound and lyrical theme. The cover art is great and a reproduction of “Sterbender Hirsch” (“Dying Deer”), the covert art straight away sets the tone for the album and what is to come. An emotional journey in the wilderness, much like Wayfarer’s Old Souls’s that I reviewed a couple months back.

Abscene leaves a lot of the work to the instrument parts and the vocals are quite distant but that just sets the whole nature theme more into light. Perfect album to dream away on, why not have it on while taking a long walk in the forest for the weekend? Or just put your earphones on, completely in your zone, and take that walk in your very own room.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lascarmusic
For fans of: Ghost Bath and Wayfarer
Favorite song: Wilderness

Anicon – Exegeses (Black Metal)

Exegeses is the debut album from the American black metal band Anicon, after having done two EP’s before. Anicon follows the formula of what you can expect from a good “United States Black Metal” (USBM for short) band. It’s very atmospheric, got a lot of depth to it worth more than one listening as you will experience new things each time. Instead of being on the more brutal side of black metal, Exegeses is more about the progressive melodic side. The album could almost be purely instrumental (for example the 3 min opening on Mazzaroth is awesome) and I would love it but Owen Rundquist (Swedish descendant?) puts on some great vocals when needed and it doesn’t get in the way of atmosphere and great riffs Anicon pulls off.

If you are a fan of USBM then check out Anicon’s debut Exegeses and let them take you in to their world of darkness.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scrapingearthandsky
For fans of: Yellow Eyes and Wayfarer
Favorite song: From Teeth, From Tongue

Imperium Dekadenz – Dis Manibvs (Atmospheric Black Metal)

Imperium Dekadenz have been going for quite a while now, since 2004, and have released some very top notch albums along the way. Dis Manibvs adds to that collection of good releases and tries to harness the nature while singing of fallen empires and death. Just as I loved Wayfarer – Old Souls album for being very atmospheric and took you on a cold long journey in the wild I feel Imperium Dekadenz maybe even pulls it off even better. I do really get the sense of being there, walking around in the nature on a cold autumn day. Dis Manibvs is not just dark and atmospheric though, it’s also harmonic with a lot of energy in it. Taking you in and requires your full attention through the whole album. Once you’ve taken this journey though you will be glad you did.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ImperiumDekadenz
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Imperi_dekadenz
For fans of: Winterfylleth and Wayfarer
Favorite song: Dis Manibvs