THE MOST FASCINATING WORKS OF ART IN MMXXIV

MMXXIV was an inspiring Draconian year. At times, it was completely still; at others, it erupted with fire and brimstone in the form of beautiful Art. Through the pages of THE VOID alone, around 700+ new black metal releases were showcased—each carefully selected and sifted from countless others, deserving of attention.

This was also the year that saw the rise of  Eosphoros Cult, the black metal magazine tied to the site, breathing new life to  the old-school love for music,  black metal culture and the way of doing quality journalism in Bulgaria and beyond.

Not just that, but the Count has published several interesting books about his life and black metal career, which we must also consider as a special event for our black metal community this year.

Aside from the fascination of the enchanting music, books and the euphoria of the new magazine, there were also heartbreaking moments – we lost some names without whom the scene would not be the same:
Minerva Pappi (Finnish mastering engineer, known for Behexen’s ‘Rituale Satanum’ and Tiamat’s ‘Prey’), Hades (vocalist and guitarist of Lucifer’s Hammer), Микола Состін (Astrofaes, Drudkh, Thunderkraft, etc.), Марія Антоненко (Handful of Stars), Vulto Perverso (Abismo Negro), Venko ‘Trolon’ Velikov (Korozy), Alfonso Arevalo (Tribulation), Peter Kubik (Abigor), Veit Vanadium (Zwielicht), Daniel Ferguson (Darkness Enshroud, Black Funeral, Prophecies et Sanctus) and John Carchia (vocalist and guitarist of Kayo Dot, Ehnahre). Please take a moment to revisit their work in order to celebrate their life and honor their death, and let’s hope that in the coming year, fewer of our burning stars will leave this side of the realm…

Now, let’s  turn our gaze to those who have kept their flames around and poured their hearts and souls into their Art throughout MMXXIV. To bring a truly fitting and magnificent close to the Year of the Dragon, THE VOID proudly presents its ranking of the very best from MMXXIV (only the exceptional and unparalleled earn their place within our realm,anyway, so you might want to consider it as ‘the best of the best of the best’ list in the black metal world).

TOP 20 FULL-LENGTH RITUALS

VEMOD : ‘THE DEEPENING’

Meticulous and fully committed to the authenticity of the process, VEMOD recreate their sonic paintings through fine craftsmanship and go through their metamorphoses with a broad sweep and a fascinating mysterious cloak of new ideas. There is hardly anyone in the black metal circles who has not drifted along the cold  atmospheres of VEMOD at least once over the years and has not been impressed by their emotional and harsh appeals floating among the sonic northern lights. Not subject to trends, the trio goes through its new metamorphosis and shows unfamiliar colors from its artistic palette. It’s a beautiful experience to immerse yourself in the wave provided in these six pieces of pure exression, which include and explore  blackgaze, progressive rock, black metal and other avant-garde influences. “The Deepening” is  a symbol of transformation and exploration  – it’s up to you how deep you dive into it.

AUREOLE : ‘ALUNARIAN BELLMASTER’

The American ambient black metal project AUREOLE is among the most original and transcendental names you can meet in the genre. With its distinctive concept and haunting sound, each album of this offspring of  Markov Soroka carries the atmosphere of his own constructed universe, unfolding a sea of unknown constellations and predatory darkness, to the sound of mesmerizing soundscapes and bell ringing. AUREOLE’s third full-length work is called ‘Alunarian Bellmaster’, and again the center of events is the Citadel Alunar. When solar flares strike the Belltower at the right moment, inhabitants of Citadel Alunar can manifest a projected self. Their creation uses the brick and iron of the Citadel as a base. These beings embody the desires of previous occupiers of Alunar and the bell becomes their life source. The Alunarian Bellmaster’s Ghost is one such self. An obsessed craft worker, the ghost is directly linked as one of the builders or maintainers of the Citadel in the long-ago times. The obsessive ringing and resonance of perfection for creating a second Alunar summoned the attention of some in its local-galactic. A never-ending empire of consumption, worshiping a never-ending god. This contact of the Deathless Interlopers led to the ultimate sacrifice of the Bellmaster, one which finally relocates the citadel belltower into a new form, far away from the relentless invaders.

SERPENTS OATH : ‘REVELATION’

‘Revelation’ is the third part of Serpents Oath’s trilogy, which started with their debut full-length album ‘Nihil’ and was followed by the second full-length title ‘Ascension’. And while in “Ascension” it was about personal enlightenment and power, about the Black Flame of spiritual enlightenment when one discovers the Source within himself, in “Revelation” the journey from initiate to adept is described from the point of view of the Apocalypse – as an all-consuming fire that ravages everything in its path. Devastating  fury and true power – this can be expected when encountering any album by the Belgians Serpents Oath, who manage to recreate the purest black flame through their music and introduce the listener to the world of absolutely sweeping reality. And this brutal tradition is fully respected with the band’s new album, ‘Revelation’!

HORNA : ‘Nyx (Hymnejä yölle)’

When we talk to each other about Finnish black metal, one name is almost always present. The one of the dark sorcerers Horna, who for several decades have not stopped materializing sonic attacks, spreading  the dark rays of their spectrum all over the globe. The  twelfth full-length album, “Nyx (Hymnejä yölle)”, marks the thirtieth anniversary of the band and is also  a monumental milestone in their musical journey. The very name of the album, as well as its fascinating cover, may have already managed to tell you that it is a rather multi-layered and enchanting work, which is not only extremely raw and powerful in terms of sound, but also offers an even more complex and sophisticated atmosphere with  a dose of melancholy and fascination about  the perfection of the night. Horna outdo themselves with “Nyx (Hymnejä yölle)”. They deliver an opus that will quite deservedly be remembered in time – a primal, truly beautiful and magical work with a number of hidden puzzle pieces for you to follow and fit in your mind, gradually revealing a mystical, exciting picture.

PARFAXITAS: ‘WEAVER OF THE BLACK MOON’

Dark ritualistic soundscapes and cosmic hallucinations coming in waves in the form of assertive drum blasts and distorted guitars drowned out by a furious primal calls – this is how the first odyssey of the international black metal band Parfaxitas, ‘Weaver of the Black Moon’,  feels. The debut was released at the end of May via  Terratur Possessions, showcasing further evidence of the creativity of Whoredom Rife’s K.R, Almyrkvi/Sinmara/Slidhr’s B.Einarsson, Merihem/Oculus/Manetheren’s Azlum and Suffering Hour’s YhA, who together merge into one entity in otder to  transform their separate energies into a manic whirlwind, ready to subdue the listener’s senses with its diverse range of sounds and sensory-provoking moments. It is  extremely rare  to come across something so organic in the recent years. Something containing both a full goblet of frenetic energy and musicianship. Everything you’re used to hear from the main bands of the  musicians is undoubtedly present here as well, but under the following condition – it’s all combined into one, thus forming an entirely new identity in the form of Parfaxitas and ‘Weaver of the Black Moon’.

CORPUS DIAVOLIS : ‘Elixiria Ekstasis’

Hailing free from any restraints from Marseille (and with roots coming from Europe’s oldest country – Bulgaria), Corpus Diavolis recreate a true and intoxicating ceremonial darkness with their new work ‘Elixiria Ekstasis’, as their soundscapes managing to penetrate in the depths of consciousness and leave a lasting impression long after the last piece has ended. And it’s safe to say – it’s not an easy task to get enough of something so primal, but at the same time provocative and excellently produced in the world of black metal. A captivating majestic atmosphere embraces the listener in the first track “His Wine Be Death”, followed by the meditative chanting of the inspiring incantation  “Media autem nocte, clamor factus est : Ecce Satan venit, exite obviam ei”.  Shortly after, we are immediately flooded with fast tremolo, soon replaced by more twisted riffs and fire-breathing vocals carrying a demonic charge. In its continuation, the song maneuvers between different tempos and moods, you will hear different vocal and guitar techniques, ending up speechless before the darkness of a sacred altar. ‘Elixiria Ekstasis’ carries an inspiring and soulful ritualistic charge in which you can clearly visualize enchanting hazy spaces under the barely flickering light of slowly burning candles, dancing moist bodies and a sense of ecstasy. Corpus Diavolis’ black metal on this album is just the one you can expect – sinful, seductive, captivating, while also enlightening and uplifting in its essence. Various tempos will immerse you in a different atmosphere in the continuation of the album – from raw malice and fury, through immersive ritualistic passages with speech and occult atmosphere… Unconventional in the general sense, but strictly following their own style of black metal craft, Corpus Diavolis once again deliver a bestial effort and challenge the listeners to celebrate the primacy of their true nature.

MISOTHEIST: ‘Vessels by which The Devil is made Flesh’

Subsiding and resurfacing with inhuman malevolence, the beast MISOTHEIST rips mercilessly and can’t seem to get enough of coming out from different directions with new surprises, alluring you to  follow its  weighty footsteps. You will even hear ambient noises that give a cinematic nuance to the record – as if someone is digging a grave with a shovel, you will undoubtedly be impressed by the deep atmospheric motifs with various unexpected twists… ‘Vessels by which The Devil is made Flesh’ will keep you teetering on the edge, fueling your inner fire until the final moment. It’s the kind of record that demands to be replayed, drawing you back again and again to confirm the intricacies you thought you caught. Subtle elements, hinted at ever so delicately yet undeniably present to the trained ear, will compel you to revisit it multiple times to fully grasp the masterpiece in all its haunting beauty. Fierce, cold, yet truly haunting and atmospheric at the same time, ‘Vessels by which The Devil is made Flesh’ is a profound, complex and diverse work, where you will hear raw production from the beating heart of Trondheim in its full northern and uncompromising  might. Passionate and pouring like a thick icy wave over the senses, this opus will remind you of the true meaning of black metal, fueling your curiosity and thirst for quality music.

CURSE UPON A PRAYER : ‘The Worship: Orthoprax Satanism’

Some of the  most  impactful black metal sounds emanate from the magical Finland, making generations of fans that shiver in anticipation of the next dark magic from the land of the Midnight Sun.
Curse Upon A Prayer are one of those representatives of the Suomian scene who embody the primacy of long-forgotten ancient forces, and every time their music is played, you are immediately transported to the epicenter of an occult scene, with the scent of ritual blood and herbs. Their live performances are a real delirium, no doubt. With its ten hymns and remarkable duration of nearly an hour, ‘The Worship: Orthoprax Satanism’  gives you a chance to immerse yourself in a sea of ​​bloody poetry and fiery melodies, overflowing with authentic and haunting sounds and incantations. Starting with soaring orchestral elements and a sublime cinematic occult atmosphere in the first track “Ortopraxia”, the dynamics quickly change to fast blasts and powerful guitars, transitioning into a majestic black metal sound with distorted riffs and beautiful melodies, in which the deep ,  seductive whispers and vocals of A. P. sink into consciousness and lift the spirit into another dimension. How it continues? Well, find out…

KAWIR : ‘Kydoimos’ 

‘Kydoimos’ (‘Κυδοιμοσ’) is Kawir’s ninth full-length album, which will be released in a matter of hours on April 19th via Soulseller Records. In ten anthems soaked in enemy blood with a total duration of about 52 minutes, the musicians draw out their purest magic from the cauldrons and transport us to the world of the evil spirits of Greek mythology, who dedicated their existence to death and war. Kydoimos is the personification of the cacophony and misery of battle. He is usually referred to as the son of Eris, the goddess of  strife, and he appears in many key ancient texts. The most important of these is the Iliad, where he is mentioned as adorning the shield of Achilles with his mother and Cer (Κίρ.), and in three of the pieces in the album there is dedicated some  special attention to this line. Kydoimos is also mentioned as adorning the shield of Heracles in the work of Hesiod, and is generally presented as an important element in the study of ancient warfare. With a theme like this one,  it should already be clear to you that the vibe of this album is going to be intriguing… to say the least. ‘Kydoimos’ (‘Κυδοιμοσ’) could  be defined as an epic poem in black metal form that honors the forgotten heritage and Hellenic mythology. Wandering through the world of war and the ancient atmospheres of the Iliad, Kawir turn each individual story into a battle hymn – a demonstration of three decades of expertise in their own black metal craft.

AARA : ‘EIGER’

‘Eiger’ by the Swiss black metal band Aara is one of the titles that significantly shaped the global black metal scene this year. The album delves into a tragic attempt to climb the Eiger’s North Face in July 1936, during which four young alpinists succumbed to treacherous conditions and disappeared, presumably engulfed by an avalanche. The music embodies a wall of chilling alpine winterscapes, saturated with majestic black metal atmospheres and uncontrollable vocals erupting like a volcano amidst the frozen wilderness. The album’s tempos oscillate between delicate acoustic, folk-infused moments and ferocious, ice-shattering bursts of untamed intensity. ‘Eiger’ is the embodiment of cold power, boundless freedom, breathtaking beauty, and the ever-looming shadow of death. No need to say much more.

HAIL SPIRIT NOIR: ‘Fossil Gardens’

The sixth full-length album by Greek pioneers HAIL SPIRIT NOIR, ‘Fossil Gardens’, is a mesmerizing psychedelic triptych that fuses otherworldly melodies, daring compositional experiments, and chaotic black metal atmospheres. With each track, the band offers a captivating glimpse into a vision that feels simultaneously abstract and refreshingly unique. Delicate, soothing clean vocals blend seamlessly with euphoric synthesizer passages, before giving way to cosmic eruptions of uplifting melodies, set against a backdrop of fierce, beastly black metal calls. ‘Fossil Gardens’ is a spellbinding journey that stands as one of the most exquisite and immersive releases out there, without any doubt.

SCHATTENFANG : ‘Perdurabo’

‘Perdurabo’ is Schattenfang’s absolute masterpiece. More than 80 minutes of first class melodic black metal in a wonderfully crafted work of Art, long awaited by the fans of the band. Ambient soundscapes and dreamlike melodies entwine into a magnificent atmosphere, embracing the most pure and raw emotions, translating them into the sound of sharp intstrumental and malicous vocals. Experiencing an album like this is an unforgettable journey, steeped with powerful energy, melancholy and skillfully composed sound… With its grandiose storytelling and richly immersive atmosphere, ‘Perdurabo’ is undeniably a treasure  in the black metal world, a testament to musical mastery and emotional depth.

NECROWRETCH: ‘Swords of Dajjal’

‘Swords of Dajjal’ is probably the most special title in the musical career of the French NECROWRETCH to date, and for me personally it turned out to be a particularly pleasant surprise, because I did not expect such a harsh and consistent black metal sound from a band that for so many years mainly of grind and death metal elements in their works. For me, this album is proof that music should be approached with an open mind and is among those titles that are motivation for new music hunters and true underground music lovers.  ‘Swords of Dajjal’ is the most pronounced black metal work they’ve ever done, with sprinklings of death metal here and there. Drifting through the hearing like an ominous desert storm with torn flesh flying through the dusty wind,’Swords of Dajjal’ with its eight searing anthems is among the titles that will have you listening in rapture and deliver a unique showcase of black metal with death metal elements coming directly from the blazing cores. Thirsty for blood, thirsty for devastation…

UNHOLY CRAFT : ‘Saa Mørkt, Saa Mektig’

‘Saa Mørkt, Saa Mektig’ channels the essence of old-school black metal with captivating melodies and brutal, ripping shrieks, tearing through the air. This album is a raw, pulsating journey that captures the very soul of traditional, bone-deep black metal. With its lo-fi quality, it resonates with an undeniable sense of melancholy and savage aggression, harkening back to the intensity of the ’90s. The directness of the sound grabs hold of the listener, proving that the primal energy of that era is alive and well—thriving in the present, as potent and uncompromising as ever.

FUNERAL ORATION: ‘Antropomorte’

‘Antropomorte’  unfolds as seven anthems of pure, old-school black metal, containing the raw, essential spirit of 90s. As Funeral Oration aptly describes it, the album is “a desperate litany of decay and mystical delirium”. A marcia funebre per il genere umano that echoes through the halls of darkness. At its core, the album is a lyrical journey steeped in poetry, occultism, and vehement anti-Christian sentiments, with its words drawn directly from the pens of poets and artists across time. Each line carries profound meaning, often influenced or even translated from their original works. ‘Antropomorte’ is a sublime, multi-layered creation—crafted with thoughtful intent and a deep love for the sophisticated Art of black metal.

INQUISITION : ‘Veneration of Medieval Mysticism and Cosmological Violence’

Intense and enigmatic, the album conjures nearly an hour of dark sorcery, weaving death-scented sermons with hauntingly profound melodies. Its ceremonial grandeur and majestic atmosphere envelop the listener, immersing them in an otherworldly realm of mystical and raw soundscapes. A spellbinding creation, this opus stands as an essential experience for any devotee of the esoteric and unrelenting depths of black metal.

PAYSAGE  D’HIVER : ‘DIE BERGE’

The enigmatic wanderer  returns, offering solitude seekers and connoisseurs of atmospheric soundscapes a monumental opus—’Die Berge’. Towering amidst the awe-inspiring Swiss mountains, where beauty and death entwine in eternal dance, this masterpiece immerses listeners in nearly two hours of alpine black metal. With its sprawling, evocative tracks, the album becomes a gateway to uncharted realms of dreams and reflections, resonating with the majestic  spirit of the peaks it venerates.

AKHLYS : ‘House of the Black Geminus’

Immersive black metal visions intertwine in a breathtaking symbiosis of grandeur and foreboding, nightmarish energy, trembling with an otherworldly allure as they draw you deeper into the mystical realm of AKHLYS. This is pure sonic ecstasy—a kaleidoscope of diverse textures converging with singular intent: to conquer the listener’s senses and pull them, fascinated and enthralled,with intoxicating fervor to its core… where it reveals their demonic reflection. Occult, philosophical, and entirely mind-absorbing, this album is undoubtedly a work of Art destined to endure the chains of time. Period.

SHAARIMOTH: ‘Devildom’

This opus beckons the seeker of enlightenment to pierce the shadowy veil, where the boundaries between the visible and invisible dissolve into a reverent ode to Darkness. Devildom embodies the Luciferian abyss, echoing sacred rites of dissolution and rebirth, and compels the adept to journey into the boundless, formless depths of transcendence. It is a hymn to the spirit’s ascension—by plunging it into the profound and intimate recesses of esoteric knowledge. Fierce, visceral, and steeped in the scent of demonic flesh, ‘Devildom’ is not merely an album; it is an unyielding testament to pure artistic devotion.

More fascinating titles that were spinned on repeat in the past months : 
Arkona: ‘Stella Pandora’; DARKSPACE : ‘Dark Space -II’ ; MONTE PENUMBRA : ‘Austere Dawning’; ERSHETU : ‘Yomi’; SCHAMMASCH:  ‘The Maldoror Chants: Old Ocean’; NUBIVAGANT: ‘The Blame Dagger’; SERVANT: ‘Death Devil Magick’; KOLDBRANN: ‘Ingen Skånsel’; Midnight Odyssey: ‘Closer to the Sky’; SEVEROTH: ‘Шляхом світла’; MERRIMACK: ‘Of Grace and Gravity’; Celestial Sword: ‘Nocturnal Divinity’; Night Shall Drape Us: ‘Lunatic Choir’ , PANZERFAUST: ‘The Suns of Perdition: Chapter IV’; SATANIC WARMASTER: ‘Exultation of Cruelty’, WHOREDOM RIFE: ‘Den Vrede Makt’, DEATH LIKE MASS : ‘The Lord of Flies’ and etc.

TOP 5  DEBUT RITUALS OF MMXXIV

SEPTUAGINT: ‘Acosmic Conflagration’

The cosmic abyss unfurls, revealing the chilling expanse of cosmic horror and the ethereal lunar phantoms that haunt the night. The debut full-length album by the Greek band SEPTUAGINT makes an indelible impact with its raw, primal calls and mesmerizing psychedelic atmospheres, evoking a sense of cosmic dread that lingers long after the final note fades. A truly captivating journey into the unknown, it blends intense ferocity with haunting beauty, cementing its place as a powerful force in the black metal landscape.

Bonus
TOP 5 EP/Split favorites

HATE FOREST: ‘Justice’
WINDSWEPT: ‘Der Eine, Wahre König’
BENEATH MOONLIGHT : ‘Beneath Moonlight’
FYRNASK/VETTER: ‘Nattverk’
Ignis Mortis : ‘Hæresis Maleficarum’

Wish you all an inspiring new year! May it be full of Art and fascinating moments.