UADA

UADA

Portland Oregon black metal band.

Photo by blogger. Come and Take It Live, Austin, TX. July 13, 2018.

Blood Worship

Death's Omnipotence

Released: June 15, 2018

This debut from Stockholm, Sweden based black metallers Blood Worship is one of my top albums this year. Blazing black metal in the traditional Swedish style, this album is precisely on-point, from the riffs to the vocals to the drumming.

If you're a fan of Dark Funeral, Dissection, or Watain, you really need to hear this album. It worships its stylistic forefathers while pummeling you with one fantastic riff after another, sucking you in from beginning to end. Also featured on drums is David Folchitto, newest addition to the mighty death metal band Fleshgod Apocalypse's lineup.

My favorite track is probably Rites of the Inner Shrine, but honestly all four tracks are absolutely killer.

You can pick it up via their bandcamp page.

Ováte -Ováte

Available from Soulseller Records.

The debut album from new Norwegian black metal band Ováte, featuring Aindiachaí, live musician for Taake and Gorgoroth, on guitar and bass, and Brodd, live musician for Taake, on drums.

If you enjoy Norwegian Black Metal, this album is worth checking out. Raw and riff heavy, it displays the styles of the associated acts these men play for. I find the Taake sound particularly noticeable, and don't consider that a bad thing. You can definitely headbang to this one, as there is a good bit of melody to the blazing riffs.

The vocal work is good, very traditional for this kind of sound without being overly raw or melodic, and the drumming compliments the guitarwork quite well. There are even some hints at folkish influences, such as the epic choral touches to Morgenstjerne, which I find reminiscent of Havukruunu's stellar Kelle Surut Soi album from last year.

Overall, this is a solid release that hits the right spots, and while it perhaps brings nothing new to the table it is still a superbly executed piece of traditional Norwegian black metal.

Released June 1, 2018

Artwork ???

Lathspell; Malum

Luciferian Nights Split

Two Finnish Black Metal powerhouses have just released this split. The Lathspell side has me exceptionally excited, as they are a fiery, aggressive, and crushing black metal band. If raging traditional black metal is your thing, be sure to give this a listen. Finland continues to be one of my current favorite black metal scenes, and bands like this are why.

Carach Angren -Pitch Black Horror over North America Tour 2018

Dutch Theatrical Symphonic Black Metallers Carach Angren will be touring North America throughout October.

Support from Mors Principium Est and Wolfheart.

While not as big a fan of their earlier work, I found their newest album more focused and streamlined, avoiding some of the unnecessary plodding and repetition I felt was common in the earlier material. If you enjoy a good stage show and black metal in the style of Cradle of Filth, take the opportunity to see them.

Blitzgeist

Ritual Magic

Portland Oregon based black metal, from Zane, the man behind the stellar Elegiac black metal project. Whereas Elegiac has a rawer, more traditionally agressive tone to it, Blitzgeist is a bit slower with the tempo. A grimier, almost more melodic sound pervades this project, and the vocal work reminds me of Inquisition. As the apt title suggests, there is a ritualistic aspect to the compositions and style.

Pick it up from the musician's personal label, Sacrificial Sounds.