France’s Esoctrilihum returns with their 11th full-length album Döth-Derniàlh.  Last year’s Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac was the longest album I have ever reviewed.  An album broken up into 3 discs, running over 2+ hours.  Esoctrilihum are one of the most fascinating one-man band acts out there, however, I know when I review, I […]

I’ve had a few moments where I look at the speakers and ask myself ‘what the fuck am I listening to?’ Of course I already know obviously but in terms of the sounds coming into my ears, it’s a process to process and then decide if I like it enough to stick around. Which brings […]

  France’s Esoctrilihum have released, since their inception in 2016, get ready for this… 10 studio albums and 2 ep’s. The one man band member is referred to as Asthâghul, and quite honestly the mystery surrounding him, and being a one man band, reminds me of the late great Quorthon from Bathory.  He plays all […]

After a particularly long day at work, I enjoy coming home to the only place where I can hang my void for the night. I, Voidhanger Records understand this well. They get me. That’s probably why I like most of what I hear from this label, despite it not getting a lot of coverage here. […]

It’s 1995 and every Friday night three close teenage friends gather in a typical suburban basement.  Each bring a homespun costume representing their character.  Old drapes for a cape, modified used cowboy boots, metal pans from Goodwill re-worked into armor, and sharp, real weapons bought from the big flee market last summer.  The two 30 […]

One of my best and oldest friends is a former metal and rock producer as well as FOH for a prominent metal band. He once told me: “With how cheap and easy it is to make a clear recording now, why would anyone settle for less?” That’s verbatim, of course. He’s not a fan of […]

Oakland California’s Abstracter have really conjuring up some gnarly tunes with their 3rd full length release Cinereous Incarnate.  Having not been familiar with this band I was recommended them through word of mouth.  Abstracter do not disappoint with their grime covered approach to blackened/sludge death doom.  From what I have been able to tell from […]

It’s been 10 years since Kansas City’s  Lo- Ruhamah released their impressive debut, The Glory of God, and then a subsequent interview with the band, cleared up the band’s deep philosophical themes and leanings, leanings which again arise on the band’s long awaited follow up, Anointing. Though not a Christian band, as you see by […]

What’s that you say? An epic, fantasy themed melodic death/black metal band featuring Ayloss  of Spectral Lore and drummer Hannes Grossman (ex Necrophagist)? Sign me the fuck up. Despite being a huge Spectral Lore fan, I had never heard of this project or  their 2010 self released, self titled debut, but this was an immediate listen […]

Black metal has become a gigantic and multi-faceted genre in the past 30 (!) years, and each sub-style offers its own emotional and aesthetic experiences. Raw, orthodox, war, symphonic, folk, progressive, depressive, Cascadian, shoegaze, post, industrial, ambient, death/black, black n’ roll – the list goes on. Despite the differences in style, what I look for, […]

If you were to ask me who are the most promising new era black metal bands that can carry the post ridden sub genre into the next millennium, I would tell you the divisive Deafheaven, Australia’s Woods of Desolation, but also France’s The Great Old Ones and Greece’s Spectral Lore. The latter two burst onto the scene […]

From I ,Voidhanger Records Facebook page:   We are very pleased to announce the signing of MARE COGNITUM, one of the leading forces in the progressive black metal field! The band’s sole member, Jacob Buczarski has already proven his capabilities on his first two full-length releases and the “Sol” split CD with Spectral Lore. Since […]

This is my first exposure to Italy’s Lorn. Apparently, they were once a fairly straightforward, traditional black metal act. With no knowledge of their back catalogue, I can’t comment on the band’s change from past to present, but the music on this album is anything but straightforward, and anything but traditional. Wasting no time, “Definitive […]

I am not sure I have ever heard a more perfect marriage on a split release than Sol, the 3 song, almost 70 fucking minute, Sun themed opus from two of the more exiting, new, one man black metal projects going right now. Both released stunning CDs last year; Mare Cognitum‘s An Extraconscious Lucidity, and […]

“Ævangelist does not intend to play death metal, black metal, or any other type of ‘music’ for your enjoyment. In fact, we hope that there are decidedly few discernible riffs, we hope this appeals to no superficial underground interests, and we hope to make no impression on any current musical trends, because in the scope […]

With only 100 copies pressed, I never would have heard about Midnight Odyssey had it not been for TOTD-forum member timshel, who has a bloodhound’s knack for sniffing out obscure, arty avant-garde black metal gems. In this case, it’s a one-man ambient black metal project from Brisbane, Australia that blends the mysterious wanderings and tortured […]