Until The Light Takes Us (full documentary)
I would hope that you’ve all seen this by now, but if you haven’t I’d highly recommend this.
Mgła - With Hearts Toward None
Straight-up traditional black metal from Poland. It’s nothing new, groundbreaking, inventive, or mind-blowing, but I’ll be damned if this is not one of the year’s most consistent, solid black metal records. Worth checking out.
Nihill - Verdonkermaan
This is nothing particularly mind-blowing, but if you like stuff that’s more in line with the second wave Norwegian bands from the 90s then you’ll dig this. An interesting little standout to count among the final releases on Hydra Head.
Revenge - Scum.Collapse.Eradication
If that Bosse-De-Nage record was a bit soft for you, you may be more interested in these guys. This is abrasive, filthy black metal with a hint of grindcore tossed in for good measure. One of the rawest BM records I’ve checked out this year and actually enjoyed thoroughly.
Bosse-De-Nage - iii
An interesting mix of atmospheric and depressive black metal with bits of screamo and post-rock tossed in. It’s a bit of an oddity, but it grew on me really quickly. Well worth checking out if you’re interested in trying something a bit different.
Mutilation Rites - Empyrean
Punishing mix of black metal, grindcore, crust and whatever the fuck else these guys decided to throw into the mix. Listened to this for the first time yesterday and it blew me away. Not at all what I expected, but well worth checking out.
Nachtmystium - “Silencing Machine”
The new one from Nachtmystium is a bit of a step back towards their roots. After starting to get a little more experimental and “out there” with the two “Black Meddle” records (2008’s Assassins: Black Meddle Part 1 and 2010’s Addicts: Black Meddle Part 2), they’ve gone with a more traditional black metal vibe for this record. I am digging it pretty hard right now.
Anthro Halaust - Правды Oсколок, Kровоточит Живым!!
Raw, traditional black metal from Ukraine. Currently ranking up there with my favourite BM releases of 2012 so far. Apparently this baby was limited to 100 copies, but I don’t have any particularly reliable source on that, just some douchebaggy blog that I found it on that has since been shut down. Either way, this is what black metal is all about, they hold the second wave Norwegian scene close to heart, and that is what I dig. Get on it.
Ash Borer - Cold of Ages
Atmospheric USBM from California on Profound Lore. Big surprise. Still, though, Ash Borer’s self titled 2011 LP was fucking solid, so I have high hopes for this one. In fact, my hopes are so high that I’m posting this without even listening to it first. That, my friends, is confidence.
