News and reviews on all macabre melodies: Metal in its many manifestations, dark and synthwave, audio dramas, soundtracks, ambient, and dungeon synth.
Everyone’s favorite Norwegian politician/postal service employee, Gylve “Fenriz” Nagell, and his ever-silent, ever-watchful supplier of friendship and dark money, Ted “Nocturno Culto” Skjellum, have managed to find time out of their busy schedules of campaigning, letter sorting and fundraising to grace our ears with another album from their little-known side project, DarkThrone.
Read MoreFormally known as Witch Hazel, SpellBook’s debut album “Magick & Mischief” delivers a much-needed infusion of brilliant classical rock and proto-metal in an anemic 2020 music landscape for such offerings.
Read MoreBlazon Rite’s 2020 EP “Dulce Bellum Inexpertis” is a welcomed addition to the NWOTHM movement that offers a unique take on the traditional metal genre while blazing its own trail as a standout in a crowded field of contenders.
Read MoreThe incantations of Australia’s The Wizar’d have held listeners spellbound since their inception in 2004. Established by guitarist/vocalist ‘Ol Rusty, the band would summon several singles and demos before calling forth the EP Follow the Wizard in 2006. Two years later, The Wizar’d released the first full-length album Infernal Wizardry. From 2010s Pathway into Darkness to the ritualistically revered Ancient Tome of Arcane Knowledge, the Australian Archmages have managed to manifest a mystic and doom-laden discography.
Read MoreI will admit that before I had the opportunity to write this I was drooling over the first track of this EP not long after it hit Bandcamp. I won’t shy from the fact that I am a sucker for killer cover art and god damn this cover is sick. You could easily convince me that this was a release from 1984 based on the art alone. I wouldn’t argue.
Virginia based artist Markus Fussell can lend his brush to as many albums as possible and the scene would benefit. Google him and you’ll see what I mean. Of course, we’ve all been lead-in by the promise of good album art only to be left disappointed. I’m happy to report that this is not the case with Blood Star’s The Fear.
Read MoreI haven’t listened to as much music this year as I probably should have. That being said, there are definitely a few albums that stood out among my (admittedly limited) listening this year. With that out of the way, here are my top five Metal albums of 2019 in no particular order. If you see something you like, make sure to support the bands by visiting the links provided.
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