Author: Darren Cowan
Essential Black Metal Albums
Black metal began in the 1980s as a prototype of and speed and thrash metal. The following list of essential …
Within The Abyss: March 2021
Every month I present reviews of black metal albums culled from throughout the world. Whether progressing into unknown territory or …
The Crown – Royal Destroyer Review
Royal Destroyer marks over 30 years of existence for The Crown (they spent their first eight known as Crown of …
Within The Abyss: February 2021
Welcome (to Hell) to another installment of my monthly black metal column, Within The Abyss. Each month I review a …
Within The Abyss: January 2021
Welcome (to Hell) to the first installment of Within The Abyss! Each month I present reviews of several black metal …
Sodom Interview
Nearly 40 years after their formation, Sodom are still thrashing vehemently. Their new album Genesis XIX is an absolute scorcher. …
My Dying Bride – Macabre Cabaret Review
England’s masters of melodic doom My Dying Bride return with a second heap of sorrow in 2020. Following their vaunted …
Dark Tranquillity – Moment Review
Progenitors of the Gothenburg melodic death metal sound, Dark Tranquillity return with Moment. The band are fast approaching their 30th …
Venom – Sons Of Satan Review
Sons of Satan: Rare And Unreleased is a collection of early demos originally released as a deluxe vinyl boxset titled …
Incantation – Sect Of Vile Divinities Review
Incantation are one of the most productive bands in death metal. Sect Of Vile Divinities marks their twelfth full-length album …
Incantation Interview
Incantation have not only consistently released albums since the early ‘90s, they’ve stayed consistent to their evil sound. This is …
Paradise Lost – Obsidian Review
Death/doom pioneers Paradise Lost return with their sixteenth studio album, Obsidian. Long time fans will be “happy” to know Obsidian …
Vader Interview
Vader didn’t limp into their fifth decade of making music. The Polish death/thrash machine burst into 2020 with a barrage …
Abysmal Dawn – Phylogenesis Review
After six years and extensive touring, Abysmal Dawn return with another helping of technical death metal in the form of …
Candlemass – The Pendulum Review
Last year, Candlemass reached heights never been felt with The Door To Doom. The LP led to the Swedish group’s …
Burning Witches Interview
The Swiss heavy metal group Burning Witches are set to release their third full-length album, Dance with the Devil. Although …
Ihsahn – Telemark Review
After releasing seven solo albums, Emperor frontman Ihsahn presents his first solo EP, Telemark. The EP consists of five songs: …
Anvil Interview
Anvil is the perfect moniker not just for a heavy metal band, but also as an adjective to describe their …
God Dethroned – Illuminati Review
God Dethroned have been releasing bloody blasphemies for nearly 30 years. Illuminati follows their 2017 effort, The World Ablaze. Their …
Annihilator Interview
Annihilator‘s seventeenth album is Ballistic, Sadistic, released via Silver Lining Music. The album marks the band’s 36th year. Jeff Waters …
Exhumed Interview
Exhumed have become a staple on Relapse Records. The San Jose-based grinding death metal group have been with the vaunted …
Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra – Legacy Of The Dark Lands Review
Blind Guardian are one of the most prominent power metal bands in the world. The German group’s latest album Legacy …
Borknagar – True North Review
Borknagar return to the majesty of Norway’s snow capped mountains and frozen fjords on True North. The group’s eleventh studio …