Black Metal

Sorrow never sounded so good. Agalloch's Pale Folklore is a symphonic depressent of well structured compositions and tales of misery as told through the sunken eyes of J. Haughm and S. Breyer. "The Painted Fire Across The Skyline" strikes like a long lost Bathory epic with a twist, a beautiful operatic female vocal is entwined within semi-harsh male vocal growls. Read the complete AGALLOCH - Pale Folklore review...

Vintersorg once again roars, this time on Borknagar's latest release "Empiricism". This release has a much more heavier, darker direction than the soothing sounds of the ambient Havayoth CD and his recent "Cosmic Genesis" release. The vocals switch between clean and growl throughout the release. Oystein still is the lead guitarist for the band and his new partnership with Vintersorg has produced an excellent result. Read the complete BORKNAGAR - Empiricism review...

Mustan Kuun Lapset is a Black Metal Band from Finland whose name translates to Children Of Black Moon in English. Their latest release is titled "Suruntuoja" and is sung entirely in Finnish. Do not let the language barrier keep you away from this CD, as it is one of the better black metal releases I have heard in recent years. For a band that is on a rather small label, Nothern Sound Records out of Finland, "Suruntuoja" has an excellent sound and mostly importantly is well produced. Read the complete MUSTAN KUUN LAPSET - Suruntuoja review...

Italy's Hortus Animae takes a vastly different direction than many of the Rhapsody clones that come out their homeland. Hortus Animae falls more in line with countrymates Opera IX in creating an ambience of black evil and more importantly, a unique style to themselves.

"A Lifetime Obscurity" has a lovely gothic intro that disintegrates into a black metal pit of misery. "Springtime Deaths" also has more of a gothic vibe throughout the track before take a similar descent. Read the complete HORTUS ANIMAE - Waltzing Mephisto review...