Zgard – Within the Swirl of Black Vigor
Eloquent raw black metal, that’s what this is.
Bloodstrike – Execution of Violence
Unrelentingly dark, massively brutal, surprisingly beautiful, intensely engaging, and boldly unpretentious, Bloodstrike have created a surprise masterpiece that grows on me with each listen.
Dead Hawk – No Safety On Other Worlds
In the final analysis, Dead Hawk has created a space outside of music, and possibly outside of our reality, in which to provoke passion and angst in our psyche.
Odradek Room – A Man of Silt
‘A Man of Silt’ is exceptional. The strangest thing you will hear for a long time.
Blood Hunter – The End of Faith
If Melodeath is your thing, you’d be an idiot to miss this. But be prepared, because this leans more to the nastier than the nice.
Gaerea – Gaerea
Billed as black metal, the EP is actually black metal with atmospheric leanings that incorporates a ton of emotional hardcore influences in the way the material is presented. In terms of actual playing, it is fair to call this black metal.
Goat War – Warwolf
It’s raw, it’s not the best quality, but what you can hear in the mud is blackened punk-thrash brilliance.
Sutekh Hexen/Hissing – Split LP
While the two sides are noticeably different, they do make a coherent whole, as both projects reach outside the box for their sound.
6 Prong Paw – Redact
They feature more extreme influences than ever before, weaving elements of black and death metal into their modern metal sound.
The Black Dahlia Murder – Nightbringers
The band doesn’t seem to have missed a beat, as they pick up exactly where they left off, but with some extra attitude included.