black metal

Rheia
Dawn of a different apocalypse
dB rating: 8/10

If Sarcofago, Watain, and Beherit got into a winner-takes-all fist fight, it might end up sounding like Kyy. If chaos, disorder, fervent calls to the Nameless One are our future, then Kyy might be the soundtrack to it all.

Poland’s Arkona, not to be confused with the Russian act of the same name, is one of many great under-recognized bands from black metal second wave. Forming in 1993, the band has spend the ensuing decades creating some of the finest black metal out of eastern Europe (or anywhere else).

Lord! Anagnorisis certainly doesn’t pull any sonic or emotional punches on its majestic, seriously affecting gut-punch sophomore full-length Peripeteia — a powerful blend of forward-thinking, nuanced black metal and excerpts from circa ’82-87 family recordings he found on two cassette tapes after his father’s death. 

Romanian black/folk metal pathfinders Negura Bunget prowl through the woods in the hypnotic video for “Stanciu Gruiul.”

The newest song from Départe is vast and crushing.

Lotus Thief‘s Gramarye is a beautiful album that draws from some of history’s most renowned texts to create an atmospheric journey through time. Listen to it in full now. 

Satyricon may have traded in medieval times for urban discipline in 1999, but that doesn’t mean that you should overlook the power of the controversial Rebel Extravaganza.

Reach negative enlightenment and reignite the blaze of evil (typical Monday goals, obviously) with this stream from Norwegian black metallers Tortorum.

Pure
Not-so-strange in stereo
dB rating: 8/10

Dutch blackened doom-death amalgamators Swampcult have written a concept album around H.P. Lovecraft’s story “The Festival” and the thing somehow manages to aurally channel the dread and terror of its inspiration. Today Decibel haunts your imagination with this exclusive stream of “Chapter VI – The Procession” as well as one of the corresponding “story cards” designed to accompany it.

Copies of Decibel Books’ Black Metal: The Cult Never Dies Vol. 1 have reached Decibel HQ and are shipping now!

Cemetery Piss is here with the first taste of their debut full-length, the thrash/black metal combination “Astral Souls.” 

Ode to the Flame sounds like a typical Nuclear Blast release. A valiant knight astride a white armored horse. The knight’s hand is aloft, in it he’s holding a great flaming sword, for which he’ll use to the slay the malignant flying beast perched behind him on the top of a snow-capped mountain. But Ode to the Flame isn’t a typical Nuclear Blast release. Not by its cover or band the band, Mantar, that created it.

Psychedelic Seattle shapeshifters warn of shroom-doom and shapeshifting dolphins in the climax of their phantasy thrashterpiece Hallucinogenesis.

The ‘Witch is Back! And The Apothic Gloom four-track EP features the best material of Skeletonwitch‘s career. Hear it now.

Bloodshed Across the Empyrean Altar Beyond the Celestial Zenith
Satan is good, Satan is our pal
dB rating: 8/10

To celebrate the Decibel Books release of Black Metal: The Cult Never Dies Vol. 1, we ranked Satyricon‘s five best songs. 

Two nerds enter. Two nerds leave. Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal & Grindcore author Albert Mudrian and Black Metal: The Cult Never Dies Vol 1. author Dayal Patterson talk creative process, Lords of Chaos, Swedish Death Metal and more. 

The Florida black metal band’s first single, “Sri Yantra,” is simultaneously dissonant and technical. Bhavachakra guitarist/singer Kenneth Reda talks about writing a record that embodies both elements. 

The Curling Flame of Blasphemy
Beats the Hockey Flame of Blasphemy
dB rating: 8/10

Are the noble intensions of an old-school punk really helping anyone? 

Whatever trajectory Heathen Beast were on seems to have led them to self-destruct, and whether that is permanent or simply a momentary lapse is unclear.  Before they broke up, however, they left us with twelve impressive diatribes and responses to the following questions.

Black Metal ist sad. Also, did you know that Dis Manibvs autocorrects to “Dis Minibus”? Tr00 story.

The troubling early history of depressive suicidal black metal pioneers Bethlehem is revealed in this exclusive Black Metal: The Cult Never Dies Vol. 1 excerpt.

Under a Better-Than-Average Moon.

This August, Portland-based multi-instrumentalist A.L.N. will bring his one-man black/doom metal project, Mizmor, to the stage for the very first time at Migration Fest in Olympia, Washington. We caught up with A.L.N. to talk about the process of transitioning Mizmor into a live band, the challenges that come with creating music by yourself and the finer points of rehearsal room tomfoolery.

The Curling Flame of Blasphemy from Northeast legends Profanatica is our new favorite fist in the face of god.  

Decibel Books is proud to announce the release of the U.S. edition of Black Metal: The Cult Never Dies Vol. 1. Pre-orders are now available.

As grind-infused industrial black metal levelers Anaal Nathrakh put the finishing touches on the band’s as-yet-untitled ninth full-length — tentatively slated for an October release via Metal Blade — Decibel caught up with vocalist Dave Hunt for a illuminating chat.