Not to keep fans waiting long after their “Devastation on the Nation” tour last summer (in which they rocked Saint Vitus Bar with a doubleheader), Rotting Christ made their NYC return.
Tag Archives: Symphonic Black Metal
CONCERT REVIEW: Cradle of Filth – Frayle Live at The Machine Shop
Flint, Michigan, might be known for the crime, cars, and crisis. Yet this down-and-out town has more to offer than that. Music fans know it best for being home to The Machine Shop. This nationally acclaimed music venue has been hosting, supporting, and celebrating bands for twenty years. This special concert lounge has gained its reputation because of their genuine love of live music and doting on its patrons. They bring to mid-Michigan audiences an enthusiasm and care most venues don’t bother with anymore. It was a bright, spring evening last weekend when a group of goth kids formed a line outside this beloved hall’s doors. They were exposed to more sunlight than what they were probably used to, but it was worth it because the Symphonic Black Metal Titans, Cradle of filth, were in town. Continue reading
CONCERT REVIEW: Hypocrisy – Carach Angren – The Agonist – Hideous Divinity Live at The Warsaw
Hypocrisy, the band that got me into Death Metal, has returned to these American shores. Along with bands from The Netherlands, Italy, and Canada; it was a little Metal United Nations week here in Brooklyn to start the tour.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Katharos – Of Lineages Long Forgotten
Swedish symphonic black metal act Katharos return with a couple of tweaks to their line-up for Of Lineages Long Forgotten (Willowtip Records) their second full length album since forming back in 2006. Guitarist Max Müssbichler straps on the bass as well as taking care of his usual six string obligations for this record while drummer Tatu Kerttula makes his first studio appearance since joining the band in 2019.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Agathodaimon – The Seven
Black Metal and groove seem to be fonder of each other as the genre diversifies and the landscape shifts evermore, progressing from the cavernous affair that was early Black Metal. The way in which Agathodaimon takes this trope to task results in an elegantly haunting experience, encapsulated in 10 tracks collectively titled, The Seven (Napalm Records).
ALBUM REVIEW: Darkwoods My Betrothed – Angel Of Carnage Unleashed
One of the more fascinating projects to be revived during everyone’s pandemic-induced free time, Darkwoods My Betrothed has returned with their first album since 1998’s Witch-Hunts. Angel of Carnage Unleashed (Napalm Records) sustains their old style for the most part, showing off a variant of Viking Black Metal with hearty Symphonic flourishes. Of course, it’s always interesting to see how time will toy with a preexisting formula, especially one that has gone undisturbed for twenty-three years.
Dimmu Borgir – Eonian
A genre born of anger and extremity, Black Metal has always burned with a glorious and uniquely singular spirit. However, with such savage independence at its core, conflict and contradiction have never been too far away. As commonplace amongst its ranks as bizarre names and unintelligible band logos, bitter (and often silly) arguments have raged for decades about which individuals, acts, or sub-genres, are the most – and of course the least – worthy to fly its blackened flag. Continue reading
Carach Angren – Dance And Laugh Amongst The Rotten
Back with another ghost story to tell in their own brand of symphonic black metal, Carach Angren has dropped one of their best in Dance and Laugh Amongst the Rotten (Season of Mist). Forty-two minutes of orchestral accompaniment paired with eerie lyrics is all it takes for an enjoyable, yet creepy album to make its mark. While some parts come off as a little cheesy at times (which I personally enjoy for the most part in the genre), other parts in the album really pick up the intensity and left a lasting impression after only a few sprints through.Continue reading
Dimmu Borgir – Forces Of The Northern Night DVD set
Top hats off to Dimmu Borgir. While it has been five years almost to the day between the recording of the second of these sets (2012’s Wacken performance where they were joined by almost 100 musicians) the release of the Forces Of The Northern Night (Nuclear Blast) double DVD set is a perfect way to close a simply huge cycle celebrating the monumental Abrahadabra album Continue reading
Slagmaur – Thill Smitts Terror
I am no leading authority on Black Metal. As I stated in my review for Woe’s outstanding new album, Hope Attrition (Vendetta), I do enjoy many of the legendary Norwegian bands, but these days on the topic of Black Metal I tend to focus on the North American scene. And maybe it’s because of that Woe review that I was assigned Slagmaur’s latest, Thill Smitts Terror (Osmose).Continue reading