Artist: Arnaut Pavle | Album: Arnaut Pavle

Formed in Finland during 2012, Arnaut Pavle do not have an extensive repertoire, yet their few works are powerful enough to stand on their own, even with a six year gap in between. Lovingly compared to the likes of Darkthrone and Craft, Arnaut Pavle seamlessly weave speedy, punkish elements throughout this self titled full length album – coming in at just under half an hour. Specific elements of both their online presence and formation are left vague, giving them an additional dash of ambiguity that can not be ignored.

Mysterious contributors aside, some skeptics may ponder the difference between this release versus their 2013 demo – and it is minimal. Arnaut Pavle‘s focus may be on perfection versus evolution, which depending upon your preference, is the least of your worries. If you find yourself longing for the days of old, raw, thrashy black metal, Arnaut Pavle will fit nicely into your music reserve. This album along with their, also self titled, demo can be found through label Mystískaos.

Artist: Barshasketh | Album: Barshasketh

Originally formed as a solo project by Krigeist in Wellington, New Zealand, Barshasketh have since relocated to Edinburgh, Scotland and rounded out a complete lineup. Since their formation in 2007, they have released four full length albums, their latest, self titled “Barshasketh,” in January of 2019. Barshasketh‘s intention is to “create pure black metal, intentionally free of genre cross-pollination: essentially, second-wave black metal re-imagined and reinterpreted through extensive use of layering and counterpoint.” And they do just that.

Teaming up with infamous Necromorbus Studio (Watain, Mayhem, Shining) in Stockholm, Sweden for recording, mixing, mastering and production, both their third full length album “Ophidian Henosis” and this fourth self titled album “Barshasketh” were released by World Terror Committee Productions, proving a “milestone in the history of the band.”

Barshasketh recently performed at SteelChaos 2019 in Helsinki, Finland and needless to say, they were the one band that were etched in memory. Not only can they deliver on record, their live performance was even tighter – compelling, inspiring and authentic. I anticipate Barshasketh to continue their ascent to greatness and urge you to take the time to discover their discography, demos and all. If you find yourself with the opportunity to catch them live, do so. Without question.

Artist: Myronath | Album: Into The Qliphoth

Myronath, hailing from the northern parts of Sweden, did what most bands do – they first released a single before releasing the full album and when I was presented the single “La Santa Muerte” by Hellcommander Vargblod (bass, vocals) it blew me away with its hunger and a new take on the old melodic black metal theme. When the album was released, it was no disappointment. The songwriting and arrangements are good, the songs heavy and the vocals are grim and recorded with a “crispiness” that give the songs an extra dimension. This is a very dark and atmospheric album, covering the subjects of the Left-Hand Path and occultism. When a debut album sounds this good, I can’t wait to hear what they will do next. The album is great, but it is still the first single that is my absolute favorite track and actually made the number 1 of my most played songs on Spotify 2019.

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Artist: Kampfar | Album: Ofidians Manifest

After a hiatus of a year due to several reasons, the black metal force that is Kampfar returned to the live scene and they returned with force. A modern lesson in what “True Norwegian Black Metal” means nowadays. Amongst so many bands trying to nail this sound, now regarded as a classic, Kampfar managed to rejuvenate it and take it to the next level.

Picking up where their last album “Profan” left off, the newest addition to the ever-growing legacy was named “Ofidans Manifest,” in reference to the madness that the album itself encompasses. This however stands out even more than the previous offering due to the sheer emotion the tracks manage to convey upon the listeners.

From brilliant semi-clean singing on “Det Sorte” to bone-chilling choruses on “Ophidian,” even a daring  duet on “Dominans” with the Norwegian band Djerv’s Agnete Kjølsrud. This record ticks all the boxes of fans of old school Norwegian black metal as envisioned by musicians back in the nineties. But it also shows that black metal is alive and kicking harder than it ever has!

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Artist: Imha Tarikat | Album: Kara Ihlas

What would it sound like when Polish black metal masters MGŁA had a love baby with Canada’s war metal monsters Revenge and that concoction would spawn forth a record that was well produced but chaotic in its very nature? The result would be Imha Tarikat’s first full length offering “Kara Ihlas.”

A young band in a scene that has its roots firmly positioned in the late eighties and early nineties, where tradition seems to be law and where newcomers are looked upon as less important than the old stalwarts. How does one stand out in such a environment? Exactly by doing what Imha Tarikat does, playing extremely aggressive and fast black metal with brilliant variety in chaos and melody.

Imha Tarikat is a band that should be looked out for, they are already paving the way to greatness for themselves and it shows. They had the great honor and behemoth of a task of opening for the black metal titans of Watain at this year’s prestigious Beyond The Gates festival in Bergen, Norway which they did with flying colors. Be wary of Imha Tarikat and surely pay attention to their next move!

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Artist: Schammasch | Album: Hearts Of No Light

The latest offering from Switzerland’s Schammasch is not just an avant-garde black metal record, it is an assault on the senses of the listener. Where the last album “Triangle” still could be considered as a somewhat traditional approach to the extreme music that is black metal, the new “Hearts Of No Light” rebels against all restrictions and forcefully shows what madness sounds like when it is poured into some of the best music this decade has offered us.

The biggest shock on this album is probably “A Paradigm Of Beauty,” brilliant in it’s execution but everything except what the listener is expecting. Offering a view of many facets of extreme metal but sometimes also touching on prog-metal makes sure that “Hearts Of No Light” never gets boring. It’s impossible for the listener to know what is next because expectations are constantly denied by introducing complex new passages in the music.

Schammasch has once again, as the band did before, shown that they truly belong to the new wave of European bands that will lift black metal out of the strangling restrictions in order to create a new sound. A sound that will be heard around the world, this new sound is ushered in their latest offering “Hearts Of No Light.” Now go, set aside your convictions about what black metal should be, and hear what black metal could be!

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Artist: Borknagar | Album: True North

One of the most vibrant, restless bastions of prog-infused blackened metal might, Borknagar once again knock it out of the park with the majestic “True North.” Replete with mountain-peak choruses from the unrivaled vocal tandem of ICS Vortex and Lars Nedland, these Norwegians have been riding a creative high over the course of their last clutch of albums. Never overly complex, band founder Øystein Brun manages to layer every song with emotion and depth, yet still create a diverse and endlessly rewarding listen. According to this scribe, there was no finer album released in calendar year 2019.

Recommended Songs: True North, Lights, Tidal, Voices

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Artist: The Meads Of Asphodel | Album: Running Out Of Time Doing Nothing

Always criminally underrated, English punk black metal outliers The Meads Of Asphodel have once more created a madcap palette of sounds that when listed separately, seem like they would want nothing to do with each other. Black metal, punk, traditional metal, show tune vocal arrangements, soundtrack psychedelia, lounge piano, female vocals, pop and dance beats – when considered apart these elements might seem insuperable, but when focused through the lens of Metatron and company, what you have is a magnificently cohesive album like nothing else you will hear in 2019. Scathing social commentary, rebellious English attitude and a stubborn lack of adherence to genre expectations; put it all together and you have one of the finest releases of 2019.

Recommended Songs: I’m Running Out of Time Doing Nothing, Cockroach Marionettes, Like Blood Shaped Flakes of Snow, The Broken Wings of a Hud-Hud

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Artist: Mayhem | Album: Daemon

There are probably a lot of people out there who didn’t think they had it in them, but the promises of a stable and hungry Mayhem lineup have come to rotten fruition on new album “Daemon.” Stylistically a worthy follow up to the peerless classic “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas,” this new slab of darkness is bolstered by the stygian otherness of Attila Csihar’s throat and a marked return to the unrestrained malice of yore. Hellhammer’s drums thunder in cavernous splendor and each song keeps the boot firmly on the listener’s neck. The riffs are straight black metal, no frills, no filler. Just turn it up to eleven and burn your local church.

Recommended Songs: Malum, Falsified and Hated, Worthless Abominations Destroyed, Black Glass Communion

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Artist: Deathspell Omega | Album: The Furnaces Of Palingenesia

Chaotic. Dark. Contemptuous. The same words can apply to each insidious Deathspell Omega album. The French black metal carved out their niche over a decade ago, and each new release is instantly recognizable as theirs. With their seventh full-length album, Deathspell Omega continues to meet the high bar they’ve set for themselves. “The Furnaces Of Palingenesia” is a little more straightforward compared to the dense layers of earlier albums, with added warmth from analog recording gear. Gone are the 10-minute epics from “Kenose” and “Fas Ite;” the longest song here is 5 and a half minutes. The album is something new while remaining true to the trademark Deathspell Omega sound. This won’t disappoint old fans. For those new to the band, their rumbling avant-garde style might take some getting used to.

Recommended Songs: The Fires of Frustration, Ad Arma! Ad Arma!

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Artist: Drofnosura | Album: Voidfever

“Voidfever” has a bleakness few bands would dare to match. If one described this album in a single phrase, it’d be “existential dread.” The album is likely best classified as sludge, although it uses elements from metal’s darkest genres so things aren’t clear-cut. Eye-popping album art shows what people are getting. It’s less about categories than atmosphere. “False Womb” is the least metal song with strong ambient and post-rock influences. Continuing this, the final track “Voidfever” is a calm slow burn for 10 minutes, until the metal returns for the final third of the song. Drofnosura could’ve gone harder in the final minutes, but it’s fine. What’s most impressive overall is that it’s a debut. “Voidfever” is a surprisingly polished effort from a band who knows what their sound evokes. They took their time to get things right. It’s a shame this flew under the radar and only a handful of reviewers took on the album.

Recommended Songs: Tower of Waves, Panzón de Borrego

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Artist: Obsequiae | Album: The Palms Of Sorrowed Kings

20 Buck Spin has been a roll lately, with many good releases in 2019. One of such is “The Palms Of Sorrowed Kings” by Minnesota’s Obsequiae. Formerly Autumnal Winds, Obsequiae plays a unique style of medieval black metal filled with melodies that would not be out of place at your local renaissance fair. “The Palms Of Sorrowed Kings” features 12 tracks, 5 of which being instrumental interludes that take you into the halls of kings and queens, while the other tracks take you to war defending them on your sword. But that’s not the best thing about this album. Obsequiae decided to release the album only digitally with all proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders and what’s cooler than listening to metal and supporting a great cause?

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Artist: Véhémence | Album: Par Le Sang Versé

Hailing from Angers, France, Véhémence puts a unique spell on a tried genre who has seen it all. At first glance, the cover art reminds the listener of days of yore, a tapestry of French history. Eight tracks full of hymns of wars, of battle and the ideals that shaped France are lovingly woven into “Par Le Sang Versé,” the second album by Véhémence.

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Artist: Hanging Garden | Album: Into That Good Night

Into that good night and into a trip of Finnish melancholy and despair. With the follow up to 2017’s “I Am Become,” Hanging Garden has emerged as one of the best in melodic doom/death metal. Featuring clean and smooth vocals from Riikka Hatakka and majestic growls from Tomi Toivonen, “Into That Good Night” is a lovely blend of sorrow, doom, post-rock and melody.

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Artist: Andavald | Album: Undir Skyggðarhaldi

This was the debut release from Iceland’s Andavald. This album is a  modern take on black metal and is a good representation of where outlying music genres are headed. Atmospheric and dissonant, recommended for fans of Leviathan and Craft.

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Artist: Vothana | Album: Không Bao Giờ Nộp / Never To Submit

From the band Vothana, which has no participation in any sort of online social media. Many black metal bands cover war history, but none other come to mind when it comes to Vietnam. It is wonderful to still hear such raw aggression being carried out today in such a unique way while still holding roots in the genre’s origins. Dark and foreboding, just like war itself.

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Metal Archives

Artist: Misþyrming | Album: Algleymi

Another band that is fairly new to black metal is Misþyrming, which I had high hopes for their follow up after their first release in 2015. Another stronghold for keeping the genre alive, I would rank among MGŁA and UADA. All elements of this album blend together for a nice atmosphere, and production is just right for the listening experience. This album does not push limits too far in experimentation, but manages to be a welcome familiarity that does not get boring after being on heavy rotation.

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Recommendations By Danny

Artist: Kaleikr | Album: Heart Of Lead

Kaleikr are an Icelandic black metal band with emotionally driven dissonant riffs and plenty of hauntingly dark and atmospheric moments. This is an awesome debut with high replay value from this two-piece duo.

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Artist: Vukari | Album: Aevum

Aggressive and relentless yet beautifully constructed Vukari combines black metal with some sick vocals, drumming and atmosphere.  Well done to this 4-piece based out of Chicago!

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Artists: Skáphe / Wormlust | Album: Kosmískur Hryllingur

I always enjoy when bands collaborate on a project to experiment. You never know what to expect but these two well respected Icelandic black metal bands definitely delivered. This album is a pummeling yet trippy ride, so buckle up.

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Artist: Numenorean | Album: Adore

Numenorean are a black gaze/post-black Canadian based band, dishing out this sophomore release which delivers some very well executed build-ups leading to tasty payoffs within tracks. 

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Artist: Aoratos | Album: Gods Without Names

Naas Alcameth of Nightbringer and Akhlys returns in the form of Aoratos to deliver this amazingly dissonant and sinister project. Do not pass up on this crushing and relentless black metal release. 

Recommendations By Justina

Artist: Ossuarium | Album: Living Tomb

Straight out of Portland, Oregon, Ossuarium formed in 2016. They released their first demo November 6, 2016 titled “Calcified Trophies Of Violence” on an independent label and cassette.  Followed by a split album with Draghkar in 2018, their debut album titled “Living Tomb,” was released this year in February 2019 via 20 Buck Spin Records.  Ossuarium are part of the new wave of old school death metal bands and are often compared to Autopsy, Tomb Mold, Incantation and Coffins.

“Living Tomb” is a powerful album that brings the old school riffs to the listeners ears, but also has that new wave punch to it. I highly recommend this album to anyone who loves the old school sound. Ossuarium’s blend of death and doom metal leans more towards the old-school death metal crowd. The atmosphere leaves you wanting to hear more from these guys after the last note ends. 

Recommended Songs: Corrosive Hallucinations, End of Life Dreams and Visions Pt. 2, Blaze of Bodies

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Artist: Paganizer | Album: The Tower Of The Morbid

Rogga Johansson is the mastermind behind many bands. Some of them include Down Among The Dead Men, MegaScavenger, Revolting, Ribspreader and The Grotesquery. But his main and most well known band Paganizer released a mammoth of a album this year in October. “The Tower Of The Morbid” features Matthias Feiberg (Blodsrit/Portal) on drums, Martin Klasen on bass, Kjetil Lynghaug on guitars and Mr. Rogga Johansson himself on guitars and vocals and was released on Transcending Death Records. The last few releases from Paganizer have been stellar, but this one stands out to me as one of the best this year and one of the best in Roggas career yet. Keeping that classic HM2 guitar sound, while keeping that deathrasy vibes at the same time. The riffs do not stop and keep chugging at you.

Recommended Songs: Cannibal Remains, The Tower of the Morbid, Flesh Tornado

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Recommendations By Thomas

Artist: Entrails | Album: Rise Of The Reaper

Formed in 1990 in Sweden, Entrails continue to serve awesome dirty, grunting noise without mercy. I really can’t get enough of it!

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Artist: Cattle Decapitation | Album: Death Atlas

I love the verity of the United States based Cattle Decapitation. They are excellent musicians! Together they deliver a real punch. It is speed with a great twist. I can’t pick out any favorites – I like the whole damn thing!

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Artist: Rotting Christ | Album: The Heretics

This chanting take on black metal by Rotting Christ is absolute brilliance.