KOLDBRANN – Den 6. Massedød (Manna fra en Annen Himmel)

RELEASE YEAR: 2023  BAND URL: https://koldbrann.bandcamp.com/album/den-6-massed-d-manna-fra-en-annen-himmel I rarely bother covering singles but this vicious 2-track slab of harsh and unnerving black metal by the fearsome Koldbrann simply needs to be featured on this hallowed webpage of ours and so here we are. Containing two exclusive non-album tracks that that will melt your face and turn your…

NYRST – V​ö​ld

RELEASE YEAR: 2023BAND URL: https://nyrst.bandcamp.com/album/v-ld The Icelandic black metal force known as Nyrst blew me away by means of their tightly executed debut offering from 2020 titled Orsök, which was also released by the consistently brilliant people at Dark Essence Records. It goes without saying that I had high expectations for Völd and I was…

MADDER MORTEM – Old Eyes, New Heart

RELEASE YEAR: 2024  BAND URL: https://maddermortem.bandcamp.com/album/old-eyes-new-heart Is there even any point in trying to categorize or label the unique sound conjured up by one of Norway’s most enticing musical outfits, namely Madder Mortem? Thirty years into their career and they still manage to amaze and excite me – how awesome is that?! Incorporating traits from doom…

DWAAL – Never Enough

RELEASE YEAR: 2023  BAND URL: https://dwaaldoom.bandcamp.com/album/never-enough Ever since the outstanding Gospel of the Vile opus saw the light of day in 2020, I have been eagerly awaiting a follow-up to that crushing piece of work. The arrival of Never Enough is imminent and you might as well start preparing for it now, because this is one…

THROUGH MIRRORS SURREAL – AN INTERVIEW WITH TILINTETGJORT

A few months ago, I had the great pleasure of receiving and reviewing an utterly exciting and seductive debut offering entitled In Death I Shall Arise by the experimental black metal outfit Tilintetgjort, which turned into one of those revelatory and deeply meaningful listening experiences that are addictive and ceaselessly rewarding. Their brand of filthy,…

NOCTURNAL BREED – Carry the Beast

RELEASE YEAR: 2023  BAND URL: https://nocturnalbreedofficial.bandcamp.com/album/carry-the-beast I have had a soft spot for these ugly and noisy thrash metal bastards from Norway ever since I saw them lay waste to the John Dee venue in Oslo in March 2005, and Nocturnal Breed rarely disappoint when it comes to unleashing malevolent and sinister tunes that deliver a…

LUMSK – Fremmede Toner

RELEASE YEAR: 2023  BAND URL: https://lumsk.bandcamp.com/ I will be the first to admit that I have never been a huge fan or admirer of Norwegian folk metal outfit Lumsk. Full disclosure here, people. Then something strange and magical happened the other day when I received the promo copy of their upcoming full-length entitled Fremmede Toner, which…

VULTURE INDUSTRIES – 15.04.2023 – Bergen, Norway

VENUE: KvarteretDATE: 15.04.2023 ORGANIZER: Det Akademiske Kvarter PHOTOGRAPHER: C. Nepper The uniquely gifted purveyors of dark and captivating avantgarde rock known as Vulture Industries never cease to amaze me regardless of whether we are talking about their recorded outputs or live performances. What this scribe is about to concisely sum up in the next few…

VULTURE INDUSTRIES – Ghosts from the Past

RELEASE YEAR: 2023  BAND URL: https://vultureindustries.bandcamp.com/album/ghosts-from-the-past The delightfully unpredictable purveyors of dramatic avantgarde metal/rock never cease to amaze me, and their upcoming fifth LP, which is entitled Ghosts from the Past, is the stuff that strangely unsettling and highly dystopian dreams are made of. Yes, this is exactly the kind of record that we all need…

COSMIC WAVES – AN INTERVIEW WITH SUPERLYNX

A wicked 6-track EP entitled “Solstice” by the Norwegian doom metallers/psychedelic stoner rockers Superlynx landed on my desk in early December last year, and I was pretty much hooked the very minute I started listening to it. The talented trio have released some utterly impressive and original-sounding works in the past – all of which…