Vampyric Winter are hailing from Spain, formed in 2021 and being relatively new band in the scene, but members played and are playing in many other bands and projects. This is their second full length. What to expect here? There are seven songs on this opus and the music is mainly raw black metal played with lots of blast beats but also some atmospheric mid tempo parts reminding me a lot of nineties black metal being my favorite bm period. The guitar deliver melancholic melodies and aggression at the same time and vocals are not typical bm screaming, rather growling and if you are into this music you will understand a lot what is being sung about. Lyrics are in English and deal with vampirism, darkness and death. My personal favorites are A Gift Of True Suffering(The Death Is Complete) and also Thy Unholy Presence. This record makes you feel like you stand at the ruins of the castle on the hill on windy night with some presence watching you. Melancholy plus aggression equals great black metal.
Not much is known about entity called Leanan Sidhe except that it is from North East, Pennsylvania and it is fascinating how USBM takes more and more quality in the scene with great releases and superb bands/projects. This seems to be debut opus with five songs just under 50 minutes meaning they are longer but in no way boring. The cover easily describes the music, it is desolate, melodic and atmospheric black metal with lots of dark ambient influences in some song parts. This music is meant for walking along lonely road through the desolate woods cleaning your black heart from all that need not be. There is a vibe of melancholy and sadness, especially in awesome instrumental The Black Crow of Morrigan, being almost gentle night song. But, there is also black metal aggression on this album with screaming vocals, whose anguish shows all bleakness and pain. Guitar work is absolutely stunning, melodies are something that stays in your heart for a long time. Also synth and ambient parts are cleverly incorporated into the album as a whole. Great album, provides great feelings. Try the title song if you don’t believe me, you will be in awe.
South America has vast underground scene and from Brazil comes Hordes of Wrath. This is a one man band which continues in raw paths of Sarcofago, Krisiun and even European influences like Marduk can be heard in this apocalyptic demo featuring four in your face Satanic songs. The music is all out fast and aggressive black death thrash attack. Old school thrash is featured mixed with blast beats in Final Solution, for me the best song on this demo. All Must Die and All Must Die are something for you to peel your ears too. Vocals are shouted more in thrash metal vein, dirty and raw, lyrics are all out attack in your face, with killing, trampling upon corpses of christians, misanthropy and anger. This energy lacked in my music list last couple of weeks, so I am happy to have found out about Hordes of Wrath. Great demo, I am eager for a full length in the future.
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