Root - The Temple in the Underworld

Genre: Unclassifiable (Epic Black/Doom Metal?)

Country: Czech Republic

Year: 1992

Label: Monitor

Another absolute favourite of mine, Root is a Czech band whose genre is nearly impossible to pin down in a concise fashion. At their inception, they were a first-wave black metal band, having formed in 1987. Accordingly, their early output had a kind of Venom/Celtic Frost/early Bathory vibe, but as time went on, their sound evolved into something utterly unique and entirely their own. This, their second proper full-length, is my favourite album from their diverse discography. As previously stated, it is really difficult to describe the music at hand. I suppose I'd pin it somewhere in some kind of epic black/doom/death metal realm, but that doesn't even begin to do it justice. It really just has to be experienced first-hand. Temple in the Underworld is definitely an album that you should set aside some close-listening time for, as there is a lot going on here and it's really worth giving it your undivided attention. The vocals of the mighty Big Boss are, as with most Root albums, the most immediately memorable part of the band's sound. He issues forth a clean, resonant tenor as well as strange, throaty growls and everything in between, and listening to his charismatic delivery is truly a treat. Nobody - and I mean nobody - sounds like Big Boss. The moment he starts singing, there is no question which band you're listening to. But I don't want my enthusiasm for his vocals to overshadow the absolutely killer music on display here. Guitarist Petr "Blackie" Hošek is a true artisan at his craft, imbuing the songs with spectacularly imaginative riffs and structures. (He has, unfortunately, departed from the band, and his absence is definitely apparent in the post-Blackie material.) The battery is handled by Evil, and his drumming displays an enormous amount of skill and creativity. There's always cool cymbal work or intricate fills going on, and it really keeps things interesting in the rhythm section. There is a deeply pervasive atmosphere to this album, lending the entire length a very mysterious, arcane feel. The reverb-drenched production actually has a surprisingly professional edge to it, but it is by no means 'over-produced' or plastic sounding - it's full and heavy without sacrificing the organic feel this kind of music demands. This is a top-notch album played by amazing musicians. Easily one of the coolest extreme metal recordings ever put to wax.

Temple in the Underworld

Old - Down With the Nails

 

Genre: Black/Thrash Metal

Country: Germany

Year: 2006

Label: Tyrant Syndicate

Awww yeeaahhhh, that's the stuff! I'm sure many of you are already familiar with this gem, but for those of you who aren't, prepare to have your face ripped off by this filthy, delicious, stripped-down slice of German black/thrash slayage. This is a zero bullshit album brimming with awesome riffs and vitriol-drenched vocals all wrapped in a savage, visceral production that couldn't be more perfect for this style of music. Down With the Nails truly captures that old-school feeling, and pulls it off with every ounce of genuine honesty one could hope for. As is the case with many albums in this vein, there's not much to be said beyond the fact that it rules. Old certainly didn't reinvent the wheel with this one, but they did a damn good job of paying homage to the music they obviously have a lot of love for - which is absolutely fantastic, because that's the point. Be sure to check this out if you in the mood for some good old-school beer-swilling face-shredding black-thrashing mayhem. Awesome.

For fans of Celtic Frost, Sodom, Darkthrone, and Destruction.

Down With the Nails 

Bal-Sagoth - A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria

Genre: Symphonic Black Metal

Country: United Kingdom

Year: 1995

Label: Cacophonous Records

A band that requires no introduction, Bal-Sagoth has been churning out their own unique brand of epic symphonic black metal since 1989, their first demo surfacing in 1993. It wouldn't be until 1995, however, that the world would hear their their first full-length album. This is my favourite release from these fantasy-obsessed Brits, and they would never record an album quite like it again. The atmosphere is much darker here than on their later work, and the production evinces a more obscure, arcane atmosphere. Honestly, I think this is the band's most epic work. Many people will likely disagree with me on this, seeing as their future releases are drenched in keyboard symphonics, and while it's cool for what it is, A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria had the most vivid and encompassing atmosphere which I feel really enthrones it at the top of their discography. Granted, I'm not intimately familiar with Battle Magic or Atlantis Rising, but the handful of listens I've given them seem to further cement my opinion on the matter. I find myself reaching for A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria far more often than The Power Cosmic, Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule, and yes, even the revered Chthonic Chronicles. As I mentioned previously, this is a decidedly darker album than anything that succeeded it, and I really like the way the symphonic elements aren't quite as over-the-top as they are on the band's other discs. Vocally, Lord Byron switched between the expected black rasps and his trademark spoken word passages, but he also used death growls that would never be heard again on a Bal-Sagoth album. I enjoy his vocal performance on this release immensely, and I actually feel that it was his best overall. Chris Maudling's riffwork is also a highlight, delivering a crushing fusillade of black and death metal magefire that stomps its way across the band's soundscape like an ancient warmachine. The combination of the leaden riffs and tasteful symphonics truly brings to mind the images of the cyclopean cities, eldritch spires, bloody battles, and unfathomable ancient gods that have always pervaded Bal-Sagoth's awesome lyrics. In short, this album is heavy, atmospheric, evil, arcane, and epic all at once - just the way I like it. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't already.

For fans of Emperor, Sear Bliss, Limbonic Art, and Summoning.

A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria

Sacramentum - Far Away from the Sun

Genre: Melodic Black Metal

Country: Sweden

Year: 1996

Label: Adipocere Records

Sorry about the delay on new posts, guys - I've been very busy over the past two weeks. But here I am now, so onward to more metal! Today I'm going with Sacramentum's Far Away From the Sun, an awesome and, according to many fans, criminally overlooked and severely underrated Swedish melodic black metal classic. The first discussion point when talking about this album is  usually whether or not Sacramentum were just a Dissection clone. The answer here, I will venture to say, is no. Sure, the unmistakably Swedish melodic tendencies are there, as is the magnificent Kristian Wåhlin cover artwork, but Sacramentum were indeed their own band. While Dissection incorporated touches of death metal elements and went for a decidedly more aggressive approach on their landmark albums, Sacramentum had both feet firmly planted on the black metal side of the fence for this one, opting for a more atmosphere-centric sound, Far Away From the Sun being an ice-cold, mist-shrouded journey through majestic nightscapes that truly embodies its own unique identity. This is a beautiful, epic album with an awesome production that allows all the instruments to be heard while retaining a distant, reverb-saturated atmosphere. I really love albums that truly sound like the cover artwork, and this is definitely one of those cases, the freezing, majestic riffs taking the listener on a journey through dark, arcane fortresses, ancient sunless forests, and towering snow-clad mountains, an atmosphere that truly pervades the music from the beginning of the opening track to the terminal fade of the final song. At the very least, give this an attentive listen before writing it off as a Dissection clone. The similarities are certainly there, as mentioned before, but this is definitely a beast of its own.

For fans of Dissection, Thulcandra, and Abyssos.

Far Away from the Sun 

Just For Fun

A friend sent me a screenshot of this and I just couldn't resist posting it:

Hahaha, thanks for reading, everybody! Here's to 666 more!

Angantyr - Hævn

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Denmark

Year: 2007

Label: Det Germanske Folket

This is one of those albums that I love so much that I have been putting off writing about it. As always with albums I feel so strongly about, I feel there's very little I can say that would do it justice, but I will give it my best shot nonetheless! Hævn is an album whose revelry in the epic is very honest and mightily profound, relying only on beautiful, haunting guitar riffs to create its gigantic, sweeping atmosphere. The melodies that pervade its generous hour and eleven minutes are gargantuan soaring hymns of fury, sorrow, triumph, and defeat. This is as good as it gets: no gimmicks, no cheeseball synthesizers, no pop melodies, nothing but one man's pure, honest vision of what great Nordic black metal should sound like. And what a vision it is! Many bands barely manage 'epic' with a full array of symphonic keyboard patches at their disposal; Angantyr pretty much defines the word with nothing but electric guitars. There are a few (read: FEW) parts where keyboards are utilized, but it's always tasteful, underpinning whatever musical idea is driving the song at the time, never taking centre stage but rather helping to flesh out the atmosphere of that particular moment. As I previously stressed, it is not often that the keys make an appearance, so this is  in no way 'symphonic'. I believe Ynleborgaz himself refers to Angantyr's music as "raw melodic black metal", and that's certainly a fitting description. Yet despite the raw feeling of the production, it's surprisingly well done: the expertly handled drums sit perfectly in the mix (yes, this is a solo project with real drums!), allowing the majestic guitar melodies to really shine through. The bass is audible but,  as should be with this type of music, is much more felt than heard. The vocals are a rasp very well suited to the style, and ride in the middle of the mix, sounding both distant and forceful. The extended cello outro at the end of album closer (and this blogger's favourite track) "Blod for Blod, Liv for Liv" is unexpected and truly moving, its beautiful, sorrowful melodies echoing in the listener's mind long after it drifts into silence. This is truly one of the best black metal albums I've ever heard, and is absolutely essential to the collection of any fan of the genre. Incredible.

For fans of Aldaaron, Windir, Odal, and Mourning Forest.

Hævn 

Bewitched - Diabolical Desecration

Genre: Black/Thrash Metal

Country: Sweden

Year: 1996

Label: Osmose Productions

This is some good ol' head bangin' fun from Sweden. Diabolical Desecration is all about simple, stripped-down black thrash (more on the thrash side) that gets to the point: no-frills here, just good riffs and down to business songs. These guys certainly have no intention of reinventing the wheel, which is fine, because this album is crackling with energy and riffy goodness. My one complaint is that I would have liked the production to be a bit more raw and visceral as I think it would have served the attitude of the music a bit better. Not to say the production doesn't work - I just would've preferred a more chaotic feeling. Small gripe aside, this album has some great riffs (which evince a very strong Motörhead vibe more than a few times) and is definitely a worthy addition to any black thrash fan's collection.

For fans of Nocturnal, Desaster, Midnight, and Sabbat.

Diabolical Desecration

Abyssos - Together We Summon the Dark

Genre: Melodic Black Metal

Country: Sweden

Year: 1997

Label: Cacophonous Records

Holy riffageddon, Batman! Enter Abyssos, one of the most rifftastic bands in black metal. Every song this band has ever written is so jam-packed with cool guitar licks that I swear they're not even human. This was the first of the two albums released during their unfortunately short-lived career, and its sequel is of equal quality, so I decided to go with this one due to it being the band's original full-length effort. Now, before I continue, let me get this out of the way: this band sounds nothing - and I mean nothing - like Cradle of Filth, and the only reason people make comparisons is because they have lyrics about vampires. Really. That's it. There's no mallcore to be heard here, only top-notch, headbangin', catchy-as-hell melodic black metal. This stuff is guaranteed to have your air guitar flying and your head flailing, yet manages to retain a dark, misty atmosphere. There are sparse keys and a touch of clean vocals (both male and female) here and there, but they're used in strict moderation, which means Abyssos simply rely on their incredibly kickass riffs and ineffable knack for fantastic songwriting. Sure, the album cover is cheesy, but it's obviously rather tongue-in-cheek, and this really is gimmick-free music that exerts first-rate ownage of its own accord. These guys had their art honed to a science before calling it quits, and it yielded spectacular results. Overlooked and underrated.

For fans of Sacramentum, Dissection, Aldaaron, and Vinterland.

Together We Summon the Dark

Wallachia - From Behind the Light

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Norway

Year: 1999

Label: Velvet Music International

Here's a very cool and seemingly forgotten gem of 90's Norwegian black metal. Wallachia is the one-man project of one Lars Stavdal, who is accompanied by a rotating cast of session musicians. From Behind the Light is a medieval-flavoured musical quest that immediately creates an awesome unique atmosphere. The production is quite full and heavy for this kind of music, which actually works quite well in this case. The only thing people seem to have trouble with at first is the odd vocals, which admittedly may take a bit of getting used to for some, but once that hurdle has been jumped, there's much to enjoy. Keys are used tastefully (mostly in organ form) to create a dark atmosphere, and the riffs are cool, ranging from heavy to atmospheric to... bouncy? It's difficult to put exactly what I mean into words, but immediately upon hearing the opening riff of "The Curse of Poenari" you'll see what I mean. Regardless, this was an incredibly cool album that definitely had its own thing going on. Enjoy! 

*Sorry guys, this one is only at 128 kbps. If anyone finds a larger bitrate file, let me know so I can switch out the link! Cheers!

From Behind the Light

Nehëmah - Light of a Dead Star

 

Genre: Black Metal

Country: France

Year: 2002

Label: Oaken Shield

Nehëmah is an enigmatic black metal entity from France who just so happen to crank out some of the best black metal you've ever heard. The atmosphere is all-encompassing, plunging everything around you into a mystical night-realm, shifting subtly from dark, to evil, to sorrowful, to arcane, to epic, and at times, all at once. This is one of those bands that manages to play a style that has been done a million times and somehow breathe their own life into it and really make it their own. Nehëmah is easily one of the best black metal bands out there, and this was their spectacular pitch-black full-length debut, a great place to begin your journey into their world. Definitely not one to miss.

For fans of early Darkthrone, early Satyricon, Burzum, and Epheles.

Light of a Dead Star

Heresi - Psalm II: Infusco Ignis

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Sweden

Year: 2006

Label: Total Holocaust Records

A friend of mine (who happens to run the Audio Ruin blog, which you should check out when you're done reading this) turned me on to this album recently, and I was immediately lamenting the fact that I've been missing out on it for the past four years. Psalm II - Infusco Ignis is a spectacular piece of black metal wrapped in a surprisingly full-bodied production. It's not slick and plastic sounding whatsoever - what I mean is that it's well-rounded with huge-sounding drums and an audible low-end that serves to make the music even more massive and all-encompassing. Epic whirlwind tremolos, evil mid-paced headbanging power-chord riffs, and stygian arpeggios comprise the sound here. This is no-frills, no gimmicks black metal played right, slaying all priests in its path and inverting all crosses in near proximity. The only drawback about this album is its painfully short length (barely over 28 minutes), but not a single second is wasted. Evil, epic, and cool as hell.

For fans of Darkthrone, Satanic Warmaster, and Judas Iscariot.

Psalm II: Infusco Ignis

Night Conquers Day - Rebellion is the Art of Survival

Genre: Black Metal

Country: U.S.A.

Year: 1999

Label: Hammerheart

This is an album that never fails to wow me, but it is incredibly difficult to summarize for some reason. It's just hard to put into words what this band was doing, I suppose, so I will keep this short. Rebellion is the Art of Survival is rife with genuinely awesome riffs, tasteful keyboards, cool as hell vocals, long, interesting songs - these guys had it all. The music is very unique, and Night Conquers Day really managed to create an atmosphere all their own, topping it all off with a very epic, mysterious feeling. At times thrashy, at times melodic, at times grim, but always gripping, Rebellion is the Art of Survival is definitely a lost gem of American black metal, and I highly, highly recommend it.

Rebellion is the Art of Survival

Absu - The Third Storm of Cythrául

Genre: Black/Thrash Metal

Country: U.S.A.

Year: 1997

Label: Osmose Productions

Absu is one of my favourite American bands, blending thrash and black metal with occult atmospheres, awesome lyrical themes, and epic album artwork - in short, they have it all. Many people prefer Tara, the album that came after this one, and while that album is indeed fantastic (and includes "Stone of Destiny", my favourite Absu song), I think I prefer The Third Storm of Cythrául overall. Tara focuses on blisteringly fast riffs and leans heavily on the thrash side of their sound, whereas Storm is a bit more balanced. Even when the guitars are thrashing away and the drums are pummeling your face like a jackhammer, the arcane atmosphere still manages to ooze from every note. Absu is a unique band that plays vicious, epic music, and The Third Storm of Cythrául is a good way to introduce yourself to their stuff if you aren't already acquainted with it.

For fans of Desaster, Usurper, and Night Conquers Day.

The Third Storm of Cythrául

Obtained Enslavement - Witchcraft

 

Genre: Symphonic Black Metal

Country: Norway

Year: 1997

Label: Wounded Love Records

Here's another band I feel doesn't recieve the accolades they deserve. Obtained Enslavement was formed in 1989 (the lineup included Pest of Gorgoroth fame on vocals), originally as a death/black metal band, but eventually they arrived at the wondrous symphonic black metal that would come to define their career. Witchcraft is often considered to be their best work, and I am not one to disagree. It's a spectaular album filled with dazzling arrangements and intricate, beautiful melodies that weave among one another to create a splendourous musical tapestry. This is one of those gems that takes you to a different world while you listen to it. Glorious.

For fans of Kataxu, Odium, Limbonic Art, and Emperor.

Witchcraft

Desaster - A Touch of Medieval Darkness

Genre: Black/Thrash Metal

Country: Germany

Year: 1996

Label: Merciless Records

Desaster is an extremely cool German band that I don't hear getting talked about too often, which is a damn shame. They play an addictive brand of thrashing black metal that is at times more black and at times more thrash, but regardless of what kind of riffage they're tearing your face off with, you can rest assured it fucking slays. This is no-gimmicks metal, no keyboards, no female vocals, just riff after riff of kickass metal that makes no compromise and takes no prisoners. A Touch of Medieval Darkness is the band's first full-length, and I really love the titular dark medieval atmosphere they managed to saturate their sound with. This is the most 'black' and least 'thrash' of their albums, and as a result, it has the most pervasive atmosphere, which I really enjoy. Don't get me wrong, the pedal-to-the-metal black-thrashing assault of their later albums totally rules too, but part of me has a soft spot for the overall feeling and mood of A Touch of Medieval Darkness. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

For fans of Deströyer 666, Nocturnal, Aura Noir, and Usurper.

A Touch of Medieval Darkness 

Odium - The Sad Realm of the Stars

Genre: Symphonic Black Metal

Country: Norway

Year: 1998

Label: Nocturnal Art Productions

Continuing with the 'cosmic' theme of the previous post, I bring you Odium's only full-length release: The Sad Realm of the Stars. And what an album it is! It's really a shame we never got anything else from these guys (according to Metal Archives, they're 'on hold'... maybe, maybe, maybe they'll do something in the future?). This is a fantastic symphonic black metal album, tastefully executed and well arranged, creating a fantastic atmosphere and retaining energy and honesty throughout. Besides the somewhat obnoxious snare sound during blast beat sections, the production fits the music well, and the band does a very good job of retaining a balance between beautiful, haunting passages and the more vitriolic moments. Definitely not an album to miss for fans of the genre.

For fans of Kataxu, Limbonic Art, Obtained Enslavement, and Emperor.

The Sad Realm of the Stars

Kataxu - Hunger of Elements

Genre: Symphonic Black Metal

Country: Poland

Year: 2005

Label: Supernal Music

This is one of those albums that has you slack-jawed in awe throughout your first listen. With Hunger of Elements, Kataxu presents massively epic black metal of the absolute highest echelon, sporting a cool, stardust-shrouded production through which beautiful crystalline symphonic keyboard arrangements wander, plummeting and transcending, enveloping the listener in its unique sonic landscape and not letting go until the final track fades into the distance. There is a very 'cosmic' atmosphere to Hunger of Elements; I can't help but imagine nebulae and galaxies drifting by (or careening past, depending on the song), and I've never heard another album that quite captures the same feelings and imagery as this one does. Mandatory listening for anyone who likes tastefully executed and colossally epic keyboard-based symphonic black metal. Breathtaking.

For fans of Emperor, Obtained Enslavement, Limbonic Art, and Odium.

Hunger of Elements 

Deviser - Transmission to Chaos

Genre: Atmospheric Death/Black Metal

Country: Greece

Year: 1998

Label: Mascot

Deviser is an obscure Greek band playing an interesting blend of death metal and atmospheric keyboardy black metal (the good kind, not the lame kind). The cover artwork is incredibly cool, and is actually what drew me to this album in the first place. The music within is also incredibly cool, characterized by a mystical, arcane atmosphere that really makes Transmission to Chaos a treat to listen to. Some songs have a more black metal vibe, while some are a bit more on the death metal side of the fence, making the overall sound difficult to describe. It doesn't sound disjointed as that might imply, however, as the overall album has a very cohesive atmosphere. This is a work of art forged in the depths of the underground. Awesome.

Transmissions to Chaos

Usurper - Twilight Dominion

Genre: Thrash/Black Metal

Country: U.S.A.

Year: 2003

Label: Earache Records

Usurper is an incredibly cool and criminally overlooked American band that has been cranking out their own unique brand of blackened thrash metal since 1993. These guys are absolute lords of slinging molten steel through your speakers, with blistering riffs, a thundering rhythm section, and a killer vocal assault (very reminiscent of Tom G. Warrior). This is some serious headbanging material full of heavy, ripping guitar work and choruses that really get stuck in your head. If you're looking for something vicious, hard rockin', and fun (in a malevolent kind of way), then Twilight Dominion is right up your alley.

For fans of Nocturnal, Celtic Frost, Deströyer 666, and Aura Noir.

Twilight Dominion

Nazgûl - De Expugnatione Elfmuth

Genre: Symphonic Black Metal

Country: Italy

Year: 2002

Label: Elegy Records

In a continuing "for fans of Summoning" theme, I bring you Italy's Nazgûl. My favourite thing about this album is that it is basically the Warcraft II soundtrack set to metal. That's the Warcraft II from 1995 when the franchise was still dark and totally ruled, and being my all-time favourite video game soundtrack by a long shot, De Expugnatione Elfmuth's striking resemblance to it immediately won it a special place in my heart. Let me get the negatives away right off the bat: the vocals take some getting used to, to put it gently. Also, the lyrics are all in Latin because the band felt it added an epic touch, and it might have were we able to understand a word of it. That aside, the music completely fucking owns. Basically, it's black metal drenched in a kick-ass MIDI orchestra that gives the songs a really cool swords-and-sorcery feeling. The arrangements themselves are actually extremely well-done, and repeated listens reveal subtle complexity to the orchestrations that make this album a real treat to listen to. The Italian duo actually do pull of an extremely epic sound with their music, and it's really great for getting that MIDI-driven medieval fantasy atmosphere that only a small cadre of bands seem to be able to pull off well. Oh, and to top it all off, it's pretty much a concept album about a bunch of orcs committing elf genocide, which is awesome, because we all know that elves suck.

For fans of Summoning, Elffor, and Sear Bliss.

De Epugniatone Elfmuth