Astrofaes - Shu Nun

Latest ep from this excellent Ukrainian horde, released last year. The first song is more folk influenced while the other straightforward; of course, both are very much in the vein of their other releases so this one comes highly recommended!

2008 - Shu Nun


download [192kbps]

buy here

Portal

Best description I read of Portal was by gulo gulo, saying this was a "straightforward occult mudstorm"!!!

2003 - Seepia


download: [320kbps] | [flac 1/2]



2004 - The Sweyy


download: [320kbps] | [flac]



2007 - Outre'


[flac 1/2]

----
Swarth

Bone RItual - Demo

Ritualistic black metal from the US; slow pounding drums, tortured vocals and bass, no guitars; this is pure necrotic filth right here. Good shit!

2009 - Bone Ritual [demo]


download [vbr v0]

buy here

In Tormentata Quiete

A slight digression from all the rawness, this is highly melodic symphonic black metal; very accessible music with great song-writing, lot’s of melodic passages and clean vocals. The first album reminds me a bit of (newer) Arcturus while the newer album is somewhat similar to Janus’ Vega but with a lot more progressive touches. Quite enjoyable!

2006 - In Tormentata Quiete


download [160kbps]



2009 - Teatroelementale


download [vbr v2]

Forteresse - Métal Noir Québécois

Straightforward raw black metal from Quebec. The songs are faster paced and quite repetitive, which I like, and even sound epic at times. The drum machine (if they’re even using one) at first sounds quite unnatural but with more listens it fits perfectly with the music. This is a great no frills black metal release that gets better with each listen, not for those who like their bm accessible.

2006 - Métal Noir Québécois


download: [320kbps] | [FLAC 1/2]

buy here

Incriminated

One of the best and most consistent bands from Finland; Incriminated started out as death / thrash metal, but with time changed to a more black metal sound. The common thread of all their releases is the pure old-school dirty sound, a bit slower paced and just plain fucking badass! Every single release is worth checking out; it simply doesn’t get any better than this!

1998 - split w/ Fulcrum Creak


download [256kbps]



2001 - split w/ Bloodhammer


download [192kbps]



2001 - split w/ Nuclear Winter


download [192kbps]



2001 - Illusion of Love


download [192kbps]



2002 - Miracle Of Purity


download [192kbps]



2003 - Ten Hail Marys (split w/ Tuska)


download [320kbps]



2003 - Ride of the Tyrants (the demos)


download [320kbps]



2004 - Hypocricide


download [vbr v0]



2004 - Kings Of Misery


download [192kbps]



2005 - split w/ Throneum


download [192kbps]



2005 - The Promise of Worse to Come


download [vbr v0]



2006 - Warriors of Fire and Hell (split w/ Black Task)


download [192kbps]



2006 - split w/ Wolves


download [vbr v2]



2007 - split w/ Barbatos


download [192kbps]



2009 - Death Nöize


download [vbr v0]


2009 - Possessed in Billnäs - Live


download [vbr v2]

buy here / here

Old Forest

Enjoyable raw black metal from the UK; the song-writing is actually quite good and the occasional chants and keyboards are really well incorporated. The sound is quite reminiscent of early melodic Norwegian black metal bands. I like it!

1998 - Of Mists and Graves [192kbps]




1999 / 2009 - The Kingdom of Darkness [256kbps]




1999 - Into The Old Forest [192kbps]




2008 - Tales of the Sussex Weald - Part 1 [192kbps]




2008 - Tales of the Sussex Weald - Part 2 [vbr v2]


download all

buy here

Livsnekad - Den Sociala Vanförheten

Great debut from this Swedish band. Slow black metal with lot’s of doom influences; the production is more trebly then the EP, which I found a bit irritating at first but got used to after a couple of listens. The songs feature some quite enjoyable acoustic interludes and the vocals are also really good. The last song is the strongest part of the release. I personally prefer their EP but this is still a great release!

2009 - Den Sociala Vanförheten


download [vbr v0]

buy here

This Is Past - Alice in Uglyland

Awesome debut from this Greek one-man band. A really well made album full of psychedelic compositions; the songs are mostly repetitive with a strange bleak atmosphere, the music actually sounds almost like Caina stripped to the bone. There are few black metal songs here, but I think this will very much appeal those into unique atmospheric music. Highly recommended!!
“Mad Hatters Final Show” is just so fucking otherworldly!

2008 - Alice in Uglyland


download [320kbps]

buy here

Exordium - In Wrath Principle

Debut album, released last year on Northern Heritage. Straightforward aggressive Finnish black metal; nothing fancy, but highly effective

2008 - In Wrath Principle


download [vbr v2]

buy here

Avulse/Auspicium - I'll Still Laugh When All Around Me Is Dust

Split release from Northern Maine. Avulse plays d-beatish black metal with hints of Von, Beherit, and Blasphmey. Auspicium gives us two tracks; Mountains of Pamola (later on the Dawnland EP), and a cover of Swans' classic "God Damn the Sun".

2009 - Avulse/Auspicium - I'll Still Laugh When All Around Me Is Dust

Download
Long sold out, eBay or Distros if you're lucky

De Magia Veterum - Spikes Through Eyes

After the seriously badass new album, I decided to track down the debut from this Dutch project. Dynamic, fast paced black metal with incredible use of effects; lots of stuff going on here, very psychedelic at times; it’s not as “brutal” as the new album but it’s just as good, if not more so! Mandatory!!
Edit: thanks to one of our readers, kane, I also added the remastered reissue of 'Spikes Through Eyes' called 'Verus Diuinus Magus' that omits the song 'The Meek Shall Inherit The Scorched Earth' but adds three others from the same session.

2005 - Spikes Through Eyes [192kbps]



2008 - Verus Diuinus Magus [320kbps]


download both

buy here

Gnaw Their Tongues

Anyone looking for their dose of noisy black savagery here's the entire discography of Gnaw Their Tongues, uploaded by my colleague on TNA, J., on his blog Bleak Bliss. Enjoy!

Gnaw Their Tongues (2006 - 2009)


get it here

Skendöd - Vanskapt

Debut album from this Icelandic / Swedish band playing mid-paced black metal. The first thing that struck me right on the intro was the great production; the sound is just so full. The songs are quite long, basically all of them clocking over the 10 minute mark, but for some reason don’t feel that way; there are some catchy parts but mostly the album focuses on creating a feeling of despair. Also, this album is self released, which is praise worthy considering the quality!

2009 - Vanskapt


download [256kbps]

buy here

Antaeus / Katharsis - Split 7"

Satanic black metal at its best, both songs fucking rule!

download [vbr v2]

buy here

Black Vomit - Jungle Death

Something a bit different from the UK. Jungle Death (fucking cool name) is a psychedelic extravaganza of pure darkened experimental weirdness; I can’t even begin to describe all the fucked up stuff that’s happening on this album.
Drone, dark ambient, krautrock, noise, black metal all coated in layers of pure black psychedelia. Fans of Emit, Vomit Orchestra and maybe even T.O.M.B. or Silvester Anfang and those who like something that’s a lot different should get this asap!!!
There's a really awesome review on Crucial blast that describes it in much more detail.

2009 - Jungle Death


download: 320kbps / flac 1|2

buy here

Portal - Swarth

Fuck yeah, new Portal!!! Necrotic and twisted blackend death metal perfection!
I already ordered a copy, and so should all of you.

2009 - Swarth


download: [192kbps] | [320kbps] | [flac]

buy here

Lutemkrat - The Last Survivor

Great melodic raw black metal from Brazil, the label compares the music to Taake and it isn’t far off. Really competent song-writing and great vocals make it extremely listenable, maybe not the most memorable release or even original, but nevertheless well made. Recommended!

2007 - The Last Survivor


download [192kbps]

buy here

The Meads of Asphodel - The Early Years

Awesome new compilation from one of my favorite bands, the songs on this one are collected from the time Jaldaboath was in the band. You can see the slight difference in songwriting and what the meads would sound if Jaldaboath stayed in the band, especially in the song “Ogs Last Stand”. I find it a bit unfortunate that he left the band, his use of samples is just something else (check out his other projects, well worth the listen!).
Anyway, this release is recommended for both fans and those unfortunate souls that are new to the band.

2009 - The Early Years


download: [FLAC 1/2/3] [320kbps]

buy here
-----
MORE

Verivala - The Shadow Order - A Fallen World's Conspiracy

Small 7” spilt release from two excellent bands. Both songs are fucking awesome, this is raw black metal at its best. Mandatory!

2006 - A Fallen World's Conspiracy


download [256kbps]

Valdur

Norwegian / American band playing good old-school black metal; the debut features a raw, in-your-face, sound with dynamic, well written, songs. The latest split release is a bit different, focusing slightly more on atmosphere, with fast songs and some really epic riffs, just listen to “raven god amongst us”, fucking amazing stuff!
A band well worth checking out!!

2007 - Valdur



download [vbr v2]



2008 - split w/ Lightning Swords of Death



download [320kbps]

buy here

Mysticum - Live In Bradford,England 1996 (video)

Mysticum, live, on video!! seriously what more do I need to say here...
(there are some glitches around the 4/5 minute mark, except that its rather decent quality)

1996 - Live In Bradford,England



download: part1 / part2

Uncelestial - Born With Lucifer's Mark

Debut ep from Uncelestial, formerly know as Uncreation’s Dawn. Unlike their previous incantation that leaned more on thrashy black metal, Uncelestial is a different kind of beast, focusing more on death metal; the music has a distinct death metal feel yet all coated in a black metal sound. Even though I personally preferred the thrashy material, this is still first-rate music that blows out of the water most bands doing this kind of thing, extremely recommended!

2009 - Born With Lucifer's Mark



download [vbr v2]

buy here