Society is one sheet of bog roll away from total revolution, and the rest of us are cooped up inside, so it seems we are left with plenty of time to catch up on our listening. If things continue, there may be many more releases to come from the stranded musicians of the underground for... Continue Reading →

A cynical reading of the 21st century stoner boom would turn away from any intrinsic appeal the genre holds and look externally to explain the cause. One would be its links to classic rock, attracting listeners well beyond the metal community. Another would be the fact that compared to other subgenres, the basic components are... Continue Reading →

Burzum: Thulean Mysteries (2020) So with very little pomp and even less ceremony Burzum have landed another album in the year of our demise 2020. Compositionally, this is the least unified and longform we have seen this artist. ‘Thulean Mysteries’ is really a compilation of the dust that has been gathering on the Burzum name... Continue Reading →

Two canonised releases from death metal now. Despite the fact that neither of these artists never managed another full length release (can we just pretend that’s true with Massacre?....let’s pretend), I believe we should resist the temptation to call them one hit wonders. The reason being that the respective line-ups behind them were so knitted... Continue Reading →

Well....IT HAPPENED AGAAAAAAAIN!!!! Glaswegian venue The Classic Grand has taken the decision to cancel 'Darkness Guides Us' Festival over controversy surrounding some of the acts booked, and their links to far right ideology. In what I'm sure will be a measured and reasonable response from the internet, let's burn up a hot fire in our... Continue Reading →

Maiestas: Purgatorium (2019) Texan black metallers Maiestas released their first LP in 2019: ‘Purgatorium’. It’s black metal that is – for the most part – informed by old school heavy metal and thrash. Although at times it comes across as a rather schizophrenic release. On the one hand it's a primitive, dirty slab of classic... Continue Reading →

Metal’s relationship with Tolkien has a long and proud history. The more ambitious offerings from the likes of Cirith Ungol from the 1980s created the perfect backdrop for lyrics that to drew from sword and sorcery novels for inspiration. Although thrash and death metal tended to more violent, base themes; black metal, with its yearning... Continue Reading →

Widziadlo: Void (2017) Widziadlo – a mysterious ambient black metal outfit from Poland – released their debut LP ‘Void’ in 2017. I was initially asked to give this one a spin in light of my discussion of Darkspace’s ‘Dark Space II’. And whilst there are certainly some stylistic similarities what is most remarkable is how... Continue Reading →

We’ll do something a little different this week, because I was recommended two albums I don’t know, from bands I’m unfamiliar with, from a country not all that known internationally for its metal scene (hence my ignorance): Italy. But good death metal is a universal language, one with hallmarks that are instantly identifiable even when... Continue Reading →

Metal was in a strange place ten years ago. An ageing and fragmented genre, with larger festival lineups already typified by older, well established acts as the only viable way to guarantee any mass attendance. The underground scene was (notable exceptions aside) struggling for relevance, trapped in a bunker, throwing projectiles at any curious outsider... Continue Reading →