Days of doom and deserted fear
DESERTED FEAR: Doomsday Release year: 2022Label: Century Media Nowadays, when speaking of the “Swedish death metal sound”, almost everyone seems to equate it to the sound pioneered by Entombed, Dismember and the likes. The dry, brittle HM-2 guitar tone, the … Continue reading Days of doom and deserted fear
A little something to drink with Division S
DIVISION S: Something To Drink & Smoke Release year: 2022Label: Steinklang Records Italian Division S – who unfortunately share the name with, and should not be confused with, an old RAC band from Sweden – seem to have an idée … Continue reading A little something to drink with Division S
Singing of verdant bone
VESPER KENNINGS: Songs Of Verdant Bone, Eight Wreathen Hoorahs For Weary Hearts Release year: 2022Label: self-released It’s a couple of years now since I first became acquainted with the Finnish project Vesper Kennings through their two demos. Already on those, … Continue reading Singing of verdant bone
Kaelte’s blood brothers
KAELTE: Alle Teufel Sind Blutsbrüder Release year: 2022Label: self-released German Kaelte, whose previous release Lieblingslieder (a compilation of older tracks) we reviewed last year (read here) are back with another slipcase CD release: this time four new tracks of their … Continue reading Kaelte’s blood brothers
Going nowhere with Hats & Caps
HATS & CAPS: Going Nowhere Release year: 2021Label: KB Records About a year ago, in my review of Laki & Järjestys’ 7″ (read here) I remarked that Finnish oi! has often been in short supply. Luckily, at the moment things … Continue reading Going nowhere with Hats & Caps
Leidungr’s heathen dawn aflame
LEIDUNGR: Gryning flammar Release year: 2021Label: SkullLine Swedish “nordic ritual folk” project Leidungr have been rather prolific during their career: Discogs lists 18 releases, out of which 17 are listed as albums, since 2013. In fact, since the release of … Continue reading Leidungr’s heathen dawn aflame
Plague tales and blunderbusses
KAARNA: Väkipyssyvärssyjä ja kulkutautitarinoita Release year: 2021Label: Anima Arctica Even in the small and quite esoteric Finnish post-industrial neofolk scene, one-man entity Kaarna is a peculiarity. Known for his involvement in Tervahäät (among many other acts), and as the owner … Continue reading Plague tales and blunderbusses
Battlespells under the warmoon
WARMOON LORD: Battlespells Release year: 2021Label: Werewolf Records Three years ago, in my review of Finnish one-man band Warmoon Lord’s debut album (read here), I pondered lengthily on the merits and demerits of pandering to pure nostalgia. Ultimately, though, what … Continue reading Battlespells under the warmoon
Anthems for skinheads
THE LAST RESORT: Skinhead Anthems IV Release year: 2021Label: Randale Records This year it will be 40 years since UK oi! group The Last Resort released their landmark album, A Way Of Life – Skinhead Anthems. Much water has passed … Continue reading Anthems for skinheads
Incantation of vile divinities
INCANTATION: Sect Of Vile Divinities Release year: 2020Label: Relapse Records Incantation are one of those stalwarts of (US) death metal, who’ve been a constant presence in the scene; one of those reliable workhorses who’ve put out a steady stream of … Continue reading Incantation of vile divinities
Only Death Is Real 