Album Review: Conifère – L’Imp​ô​t du Sang

Conifère - L'Imp​ô​t du SangApril 11th, 2024Black MetalIndependently ReleasedMontreal, Quebec, Canada Don't let the stereotypes about Canada fool you. It's not always a frozen wasteland up here. As I'm writing this the weather has hit a solid 40 degrees outside during the first proper heat wave of the year. Air conditioners are running. People are …

EP Review: Occult Blood – The Room in the Ground

Occult Blood - The Room in the GroundAugust 18th, 2023Blackened Punk / Black MetalIndependently ReleasedEugene, Oregon, USA I first happened upon Occult Blood when I was listening to some other band that falls within the purview of blackened punk and blackened heavy metal. It may have been Darkthrone. It may have been Devil Master. I …

Akhenaten’s Best Albums of 2023

The time has come to deliver my list of my personal favourite records of 2023. Please remember that this is not an objective list of albums considered the best. It's just my opinion that these are the best because I liked them more than anything else that came out this year. 10. Øbelisk - The …

Album Review: Immortal – War Against All

"Strike with the breath of battlelust, all of the enemies to be crushed." Immortal - War Against AllMay 26th, 2023Black MetalNuclear Blast RecordsBergen, Norway The Norwegian black metal stalwarts Immortal are back with a brand new record, their first sonic onslaught since 2018's Northern Chaos Gods and the second since the departure of frontman and …

Album Review: Lamp of Murmuur – Saturnian Bloodstorm

"Wander beyond the landscape of frost and silver days." Lamp of Murmuur - Saturnian BloodstormMarch 26th, 2023Black MetalNight of the Palemoon / Not Kvlt / Argento Records / Wolves of HadesLos Angeles, California, USA I first became aware of Lamp of Murmuur through recommendations given to me by my fellow metalheads on Twitter who had …

EP Review: Winterhearth – Rape of Eden

Winterhearth - Rape of EdenMarch 21st, 2023Blackened Death MetalIndependently ReleasedSt. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Rape of Eden is the second EP and the fifth proper release from St. John's blackened death metal stalwarts Winterhearth. Following the release of the band's third full length record, Riverbed Empire, the group underwent some lineup changes, losing Brad …

Album Review: Trollass – All Trolls Are Bastards

Trollass - All Trolls Are BastardsJanuary 20th, 2023Black MetalSyrup Moose RecordsCalifornia, USA When I saw a black metal project with the name Trollass on Twitter I couldn't help but give the account an instant follow and check out their most recent release, an album entitled All Trolls Are Bastards. With an album title like that …

Album Review: Abbath – Dread Reaver

"Dread reaver cannot aught but rip, compel momentum from the pit." Abbath - Dread ReaverMarch 25th, 2022Black Metal / Black N RollSeason of MistBergen, Norway Dread Reaver is the third full length album I've reviewed from Norwegian black metal legend Abbath and his new band of the same name. Since splitting with the band he …

Film Review: Deathgasm [2015]

"It's like... when life sucks, and you feel alone and empty. You stick on some metal and life is better, because... because somebody else knows the pain and rage that you're going through, y'know?" DeathgasmDir. Jason Lei HowdenMarch 15th, 2015Horror ComedyMPI Media Group / New Zealand Film Commission / Timpson FilmsDark Sky Films Deathgasm is …

Album Review: Fen – The Dead Light

"And so I condemn a species that thrives on its own terror." Fen - The Dead LightDecember 6th, 2019Atmospheric Black MetalProphecy ProductionsLondon, England, United Kingdom Fen is a band that holds a special place in my heart since they were one of my earliest introductions to black metal. While I didn't fully embrace the genre …