Reviewed: [August 2020] Released [2020 Nuclear War Now! Productions] Rating [3/5] Reviewer: Peter Atkinson If Mayhem were the literal and figurative poster children for early Norwegian black metal’s dead seriousness way back in the day, the ironically named and short-lived 666 were perhaps just the opposite. Despite the satanic connotations…
Norway
Black Altar & Kirkebrann – Deus Inversus
Reviewed: July 2020 Released: 2020, Odium Records Rating: 4/5 Reviewer: Demitri Levantis Polish black metal institution Black Altar has teamed up with the Norwegian outfit Kirkebrann (“church burning”) to create a brand new split record stating how the metal sounds of both nations have not waned in the current state of…
Sinistral King – Serpent Uncoiling
Reviewed: May 2020 Released: 2020, Vendetta Records Rating: 5/5 Reviewer: Kira Levine What do you get when the members of the bands Unlight, Triumph Of Death and Vredehammer (from Germany, Switzerland and Norway respectively) collaborate? A mix of pulverising death vocals, shattering black metal screams and otherworldly chorals that perfectly…
Dimmu Borgir-The Invaluable Darkness (DVD Review)
Reviewed: April 2020 Released: 2008, Nuclear Blast Rating: 4.5/5 Reviewer: JP I reviewed Dimmu Borgir’s first DVD WORLD MISANTHROPY back in 2016 and in hindsight I might have been a little too critical about it. It was a superb package, the three disc, upside-down cross digipak looks amazing! The packaging…
Emperor-Live Inferno (DVD Review)
Reviewed: April 2020 Released: 2009, Candlelight Rating: 4.5/5 Reviewer: JP This is one of those weird, sort of unclassifiable products that bug the heck out of me. Is LIVE INFERNO a DVD with two bonus live albums? Is it two live albums with a bonus DVD? The packaging is weird,…
Ihsahn – Telemark
Reviewed: [February 2020] Released [2020 Candlelight Records] Rating [4/5] Reviewer: Peter Atkinson Emperor’s prolific frontman Ihsahn is back with his eighth solo release in Telemark, the first to two EPs he has planned for the coming year, both of which will continue to expand the already broad sonic palette he…
Blood Red Throne – Fit To Kill
Reviewed: [September 2019] Released [2019 Mighty Music] Rating [3.5/5] Reviewer: Peter Atkinson I kinda lost track of Blood Red Throne over the years. Especially as lineup changes continued to mount, leaving guitarist Daniel “Død” Olaisen as the sole remaining original member for a stretch before drummer Freddy Bolsø rejoined in…
Black Magic – Wizard’s Spell
Reviewed: May 2019 Released: 2019, Dark Essence Records Rating: 4/5 Reviewer: Kieron Hayes Fancy a musical trip back to 1983? Black Magic have got you covered! Black Magic make no secret of who they are and what they do, it’s evident right from the first note of Wizard’s Spell: this…
Spectacularly Majestic! Heavy Metal Collectors: An interview series Part 15: Joakim Transgrud (Oslo, Norway)
Spectacularly Majestic! Heavy Metal Collectors: An interview series Part 15: Joakim Transgrud (Oslo, Norway) by JP Inspiration can come from a number of unique sources. The concept behind this interview series was developed over time but recently crystallized in my mind. As the owner of a large library I’ve often…
DOMINANZ “Code Of Silence” Video Premiere via Metal-Rules.com!
New lyric video from Norwegian black metallers Dominanz, taken from their third album “Let The Death Enter”, released in March 22nd through Mighty Music. The record was captured in Øystein G. Bruns’ (Borknagar) Crosound Studio, with the final touch being made by mastermind Dan Swanö at Unisound Studio. “Code Of Silence”…
Korpiklaani + Turisas + TrollfesT @ Islington Assembly Hall, London
Korplikaani + Turisas + TrollfesT @ Islington Assembly Hall, London 25th February 2019 Review & Photography by Ryan Whitwell / Shotison.com Please follow and like us:
Gaahl’s Wyrd + Tribulation + Uada + Idle Hands @ O2 Academy, Islington, London
Gaahl’s Wyrd + Tribulation + Uada + Idle Hands @ O2 Academy, Islington 25th January 2019 Review by Demitri Levantis Photography by Claudia Black A celebration of all things black, death and Gothic metal came to London this evening, with the O2 Academy in Islington playing host to Gaahl celebrating…
Various Artists – A Tribute to Burzum
Reviewed: March 2019 Released: November 2018, Antichrist Magazine Promotion by: Grand Sounds PR Rating: 4.5/5 Reviewer: James Swandale Ah Burzum, as much as I love the music, I can’t help feeling a twinge of self-loathing inside me whenever I crack on a song knowing who the man behind the band…
Akerlund, Jonas, (Dir.) Lords Of Chaos (Film Review)
Director: Jonas Akerlund Film: Lords Of Chaos Studio: 4 1/2 Films, Vice Films Released: 2019 Reviewed: Feb 2019 Rating: 3.5/5 Reviewer: JP I don’t think there has been a Metal-themed film that has been so politically and culturally charged as LORDS OF CHAOS. Most Metal DVD’s are what they are;…
Shining – Animal
Reviewed: December, 2018 Released: 2018, Spinefarm Records Rating: 2.5/5 Reviewer: Peter Atkinson Well, so much for “blackjazz.” But I guess that was inevitable. Norway’s Shining have never been a band to stay in one place for long, as their sound has evolved from acoustic jazz to avant-pop and art rock…