Königreichssaal : Loewen – Podróż Przez Dziesiąty Krąg Piekła
Königreichssaal’s  new EP  is a clear sample of how diverse the Polish  black metal scene can be.
The record is filled with literally beastial energy from  the first track, bursting with expressive and desperate vocals, carefully accented by atmospheric guitars and rhythmic drums.
Combining elements from several black metal scenes worldwide (the French feels extremely strong) along with doom metal segments, „Loewen – Podróż Przez Dziesiąty Krąg Piekła“  is leading us  to the dark world of Königreichssaal, where at times one feels the refreshing chill of melancholy.

Aerdryk : Met de drietand op mijn huid
When I  heard „Met de drietand op mijn huid“ for a first time  I found it quite surprising that it was  a
debut album, but no wonder – behind the project is standing  no other but  C.V.B.  –  we already know well his name from already established names like Cult of Erinyes, Monads, The Nest, Wolvennest, We All Die (Laughing) and Psalm.
The musician has created an atmospheric and at the same time highly classical album in which we can  simultaneously enjoy muffled classic black metal vocals, ritualistic chants, atmospheric and totally cutting distortion guitars, fast-paced drums and last but not least –  beautiful bass lines.
Black metal with a lo-fi atmosphere in excellent quality, triumphing in the space without compromise.

Ancient North : Ancient North
With two full-length albums and two EPs already under their belt, Forlorn – the multi-instrumentalist and vocalist behind the Ancient North project never ceases to delight the die-hard fans of 90s black metal with his  traditional vocals and cutting, cold guitars.
A classic mini-album from a very unpretentious artist who easily manages to recreate the atmosphere of bygone times.

Ferum : Asunder / Erode
Ferum is one of my new death/doom metal discoveries and the album „Asunder / Erode“ is their debut.
Slow, as if cursed riffs are combined with faster, sharper parts, while harmonized melodies and solos paint a cavernous atmosphere typical for death metal music from  two decades ago and bands like Cianide, Asphyx, Goatlord, etc.
Samantha’s guttural vocals (yes, the vocals are performed by a woman – a thing I only noticed after seeing the band line-up at the end) are like taken from a textbook and filled with an inhuman charge that makes you want to break your neck.

Auriferous Flame : The Great Mist Within
Auriferous Flame is the new project of A. (Clarent Blade, Divine Element, Fortress of the Pearl, Mystras, Spectral
Lore, A Compendium of Curiosities, Ontrothon, Saga of the Ancient Glass, ex-Tome of the Unreplenished, ex-
Warbled Arma, ex-Devathorn (live), ex-Dødsferd). Atmospheric black metal in a very beautiful and ethereal form that combines the aggression of records from the 90s with powerful vocal appeals and distinctive fast drums and guitars. An engaging adventure that will appeal to fans alike to classic black metal as well as fans of more atmospheric albums. And most importantly, this record  is filled with a special energy that brings you into a specific atmosphere of coldness and floating among the space. Beautiful escape.

Hevvn : Satanic Doctrine
Kharkiv black metal project Hevvn’s new album  „Satanic Doctrine“  is a classic record in which
they circulate primal rage, perfectionism and an interesting approach to songwriting. Standing out
from a large part of the representatives of the scene with a different theme of the lyrics – Satanism, the album
presents a slightly different perspective of traditional Ukrainian black metal music, at the same time carrying the  core in each of the songs. Indefatigable, omnipresent , intensive , extraordinary   in its essence, the vibrating album  does not leave you alone even for a second. Reminds me a lot of the work of Roman and company (mostly for Blood of Kingu and Hate Forest), to the guys from Khors  and etc.
Kharkiv is certainly proud of this record, and I am extremely grateful that I was given the chance to hear it.

Mimorium : The Route of Haeresis
Finns Mimorium are total savages and never disappoint their  fans.
„The Route of Haeresis“ is another smashing dose of blackness in the band’s style, yet another avalanche of ominous and haunting vocals, methodically executed cutting guitars and tunes – musical blasphemy in its purest form.
An aggressive record reminiscent of the spirit of the second wave, by combining various stylistic approaches, both when it comes to the vocals and  instrumentals, making the album interesting to listen to and follow through.
If you don’t know who are Mimorium yet, and you like to  hear something in the spirit of Ars Veneficium, Watain, Dissection or Necrophobic – break „The Route of Haeresis“ from listening.

Goety : Seasonal Ceremonies
„Seasonal Ceremonies“ is the first album by the American atmospheric black metal project Goety, which
I discovered  quite by accident while digging around for new music. The album is dedicated to the four seasons and
presents four tracks with dizzying atmospheric passages representing the characteristic of each of them.
Heavy, brutal and elegant at the same time, „Seasonal Ceremonies“ creates a sense of grandeur and elevation.

Pilori: Quand bien même l’enfer et le déluge s’abattraient sur nous
PILORI are a French blackened crust/deathgrind band. In  „Quand bien même l’enfer et le déluge
s’abattraient sur nous“ they intertwined  the styles very skillfully, delivering a stocking pulsating beat,
fierce brutal vocals and in places the typical deathgrind and crust punk elements. The whole album’s charge is explosive and emanating an urgent sense of rage, panic, of suffocating emotions.
A thunderous album, which for me personally was a fresh breath from the first listen.
There is a lot of darkness in these guys, and the way they express it through music is fascinating.

Hierophant: Death Siege
Italians Hierophant are among my favorite misanthropes in the black/death metal scene.
Their new album „Death Siege“ is an all-sweeping opus forged by hatred, an enemy of all mortals.
The album has spectacular moments reminiscent of a military parade in front of the very gates of Hell, as
at the same time, we can also hear playful guitar solos inserted among the general aggression of the album.
„Death Siege“ is exactly what the title suggests – a deadly siege of bloodthirsty black metal fury that leaves no hostages and burns everything to the ground.