Ravenmoon Sanctuary - Winter Desolation of Death (2013)

Genre: Black Metal
Country: Poland

Savage black metal combined with spacey keys and big atmosphere? And it's Polish? Sign me up. Featuring all manner of grim song titles strung together with the help of the black metal dictionary, Winter Desolation of Death is a shrill tour through the frozen Polish forests where the black metal is of the ambient/atmospheric variety, but often condenses into some ferociously heavy passages featuring some of the better vocals I've heard from the black metal underground in a while. The record is so diverse and changes course so frequently it's hard to really pinpoint a central mood, because you'll be thrust from huge, synth-laden soundscapes into charging blast beats within the span of about 30 seconds. Give me more.

grim times await

Drudkh - Eastern Frontier In Flames (2014)

Genre: Black Metal
Country: Ukraine

And Drudkh bestow upon us some awesome covers of Eastern-European bm bands as well as two tracks taken from Anti-Urban. Today is a good day.

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Vuyvr - Eiskalt (2013)

Genre: Black Metal
Country: Switzerland

This fine black metal record is the debut release from the Swiss band Vuyvr, who play a no-frills style of black metal that can be both ferocious and thoughtful at the same time. There are times when the riffs are oozing emotion and run in a way that is most certainly that of atmospheric black metal, but then again there are other times where the intensity knob is turned to the breaking point, giving this record a sense of movement and dimension that is hard to come by in the cut-and-dry confines of black metal. I'll be the first to admit it's nothing new and not necessarily anything truly marvelous, but it's solid as hell and get this: the label has it up for all you to download for FREE. I can't argue with that.

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Wedrujacy Wiatr - Tam, Gdzie Miesiąc Opłakuje Świt (2013)

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: Poland

Epic and brooding Cascadian black metal from Poland with one of the sickest album covers I've seen in awhile. The music does well in complementing the cover as Drudkh-esque melodies and vocals (which also dip more towards a growl at times) soar over the blast beats of charging horsemen. Not to be missed by enthusiasts of the Cascadian variety of atmospheric black metal, or just black metal in general to be honest...

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Summoning - Old Morning's Dawn (2013)

Genre: Summoning
Country: Middle Earth

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UPDATE 5/30 - Finally have a 320kbps leak, updated below.



ITS HERE

Fell Voices - Regnum Saturni (2013)

Genre: Black Metal
Country: USA

I admittedly don't really like Fell Voices as much as everyone else seems to.  I don't know what it is, but nothing they ever did really caught my fancy, even though it wasn't bad by any means.  Well it seems that has changed, because Regnum Saturni is the best thing this band has ever done.  The production is finally perfect,  the drone tendencies they've had in the past come out full force and somehow manage to compliment the riffs perfectly to make for the most compelling album i've heard from these guys.  It's like a more droney version of a Darkspace album and that's pretty high praise i think.  Not to mention that cover art is so awesome.  I might actually order this on vinyl, and i;m suspecting all of you want to as well, so here is the link and where you can buy it, unless it's sold out already i'm not sure.

moons in orion

Purchase from Gilead Media

Darkspace

Genre: Black Metal/Ambient
Country: Switzerland

In the deep void of space, all that can be heard in the vacuum is the swirling, abrasive whir of Darkspace. This Swiss band are about as crushing as a black hole, and are easily one of the most interesting black metal bands in the world, simply because there is no other act quite like them.




Dark Space I




Dark Space II




Dark Space III

Abigor - Orkblut - The Retaliation (1995)

Genre: Black Metal
Country: Austria

Yeah i know this band is from Austria but they play Norwegian styled black metal better than a lot of the bands from Norway so i think they deserve a spot here today..  This and Nacthymnen are my favorite releases from this band.  Their style of trading off blasting black metal with keyboard interludes pretty frequently actually works well for them and gives rise to some evil black metal that channels the quintessence of satan pretty hard.  Plus Abigor is such a fucking good black metal band name it pisses me off that i can't use it now.

channeling the quintessence of satan through the vast darkened woods at midnight

Odz Manouk / Absum - Rotting Esophagus (2012)

Genre: Black Metal
Country: USA

What this year has been lacking in death metal it sure is making up for in black metal, and you bet your ass the Black Twilight Circle/Rhinocervs/Crepsculo Negro conglomerate are busy putting out a bunch of stuff for us to enjoy.  Probably their best output this year is this little split between the best BTC band and the most underrated BTC band.  The Odz Manouk side is on par with all the other great things they've put out so far, but the shining star of this split of this is Absum's side.  Absum is basically a blackened funeral doom band that do what they do extremely well.  Long, drawn out, mournful melodies over a thick plate of pleasently lo-fi production makes for a fucking good track. If you want some good quality black material from this year look no further than this split, it delivers on all fronts.

Worship Black Twilight

Rahu - The Quest for the Vajra of Shadows (2012)

Genre: Black Metal
Country: Finland

So, for my first post here i'd like to follow up on something i never got to fix on Pervert the Church before it got destroyed by the capitalist pigs (RIP).  Rahu is yet another black metal project courtesy of the guys behind bands like Circle of Ouroborus, Vordr, and Prevalent Resistance.  They released two EP's a few years ago but finally in 2012 they unleash on us their first full length, which so far is my favorite black metal this year.  This has been leaked for a while now but the original rip was fucked up and had the last 30 or so seconds of the tracks cut off on each one.  Thankfully there is a good rip out now so those of you who have the bad one or have yet to hear this can jump on it, because it really is quite good.

Also i wanna thank Crysis for bringing me on here to post for you guys, i promise i'll only bring the kvlt and crush.

the quest for the vagina of shadows

Ash Borer - Cold of Ages (2012)

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: United States

This is the first release by Ash Borer on Profound Lore - a label that is snatching up talented metal bands with a startling pace - and also their first album to ever be released on CD. Yes, that is trve indeed, but I will miss the mad scramble to order a copy of a tape release limited to 150, and the sense of satisfaction knowing that you have more people on your Facebook friends list than there are people who have this tape. Oh well, bands move on and become less krieg.

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Skagos - Anarchic Side A (2012)

Genre: Cascadian Black Metal
Country: Canada

I'll be the first one to tell you that Skagos' past material has been rather...well... crap. Their split with Wake wasn't bad but nothing they've released has really been worthwhile. However, their newest release Anarchic is another animal entirely. It seems like they've found both quality inspiration and songwriting talent to turn that inspiration into one fluid 23-minute track of excellent, earthy black metal. The last half in particular is outstanding.

Download here or listen for free and purchase here

Wodensthrone - Curse (2012)

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: United Kingdom

I know that many people were both impressed and unimpressed by Wodensthrone's debut album Loss. However, I can say that Curse is most definitely a better album, so that is good news for both crowds. This time around they concentrate less on stagnant folk sections and more on hissing atmospheric black metal.

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Ygg - Ygg (2011)

Genre: Atmospheric/Pagan Black Metal
Country: Ukraine

Ukraine has some seriously good black metal, and Ygg continue that tradition with some well-produced atmospheric black metal with nice, howling vocals and an altogether grim atmosphere and a large handful of heavy, winding riffs. A promising debut album. Krieg.

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Ayr - Eternal Sustain (2011)

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: United States

Ayr's second EP that came out in January of this year. It's a shame these guys went on hold because they are a talented band that simply understands how to write good, captivating black metal. Rare qualities these days, that's for sure.

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Falls Of Rauros - The Light That Dwells In Rotten Wood (2011)

Genre: Atmospheric/Folk Black Metal
Country: United States

It's always surprised me how little black metal comes from northern New England. I've lived here all my life and have always thought that it would provide the perfect stage for a sort of counterpart to the Cascadian black metal sound from the geographically opposite side of the country. There is one band, though, that puts into practice what I've been thinking all this time. Falls Of Rauros have already put out several releases, and with each one they evolve their sound. Featuring Austin Lundr of Panopticon on drums (he is a good friend of the band) and some excellent acoustic and electric riffs to be had this is exactly what this region needs. More bands in northern New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont need to take cues from what is going on here and showcase the fact that what our region offers for inspiration can easily rival anything else going on across the country.

As of now, The Light That Dwells In Rotten Wood is available for stream here, and available for purchase here.

Download here

Ayr - Circling (2010)

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: United States

Circling seduces you with an atmospheric intro and the next thing you know it's running away with your torn off nutsack into the woods laughing with hysterical wails.

Well maybe it's not that intense but it's a pretty heavy and non-gay atmospheric black metal tape.

Download

Ash Borer - Ash Borer (2011)

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: United States

Here it is.

Download

Branikald - Rdjandalir (1996)

Genre: атмосферных черного металла
Country: Россия

Blazebirth Hall motherfuckers.

Скачать

Leech - Ten Black Hymns (2005)

Genre: Cascadian Black Metal
Country: United States

Another spawn of the growing Cascadian black metal scene, Leech stand alongside Ash Borer and Fell Voices as one of the best acts to play the sound. Ten Black Hymns is by far Leech's best effort, the pinnacle of their handful of impressive releases.

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