DEAD METAL

Varg Vikernes is a controversial figure, to say the least, but this is strictly about his music. And he sure has made some great music in his time. The first four Burzum albums (pictured above) are black metal at its finest. They were all recorded between 1991 and 1993. For anyone who is unfamiliar with them, you will find one track from each album below... 'Spell of Destruction', from Burzum ( Deathlike Silence, 1992 ): 'En Ring Til Å Herske', from Det Som Engang Var ( Cymophane, 1993 ): 'Det Som Engang Var', from  Hvis Lyset Tar Oss ( Misanthropy/Cymophane, 1994 ): 'Dunkelheit', from Filosofem ( Misanthropy/Cymophane, 1996): Soon after recording the last of those albums, Vikernes went to prison for fifteen years.  There he would record two ambient/'dungeon synth' albums -  Dauði Baldrs   (Misanthropy/Cymophane, 1997) ; and  Hliðskjálf ( Misanthropy/Cymophane, 1999 ), which is probably the stronge...

None is a depressive black metal act from Portland, Oregon. Active since 2015, it has already birthed three releases. The first is 2017's  self-titled mini-album : Next up is  Life Has Gone On Long Enough , a full-length released in April 2018: Finally, a single from November 2018 called Where Life Should Be : All of the above have been brought to us by Hypnotic Dirge Records. Textured and substantial; this is bleak, tortured stuff, with haunting melodies and chilling atmospherics aplenty; and some hints of  Burzum . The songwriting, execution and production are all impressive. Don't sleep on this mysterious project.

01  Krypts  -  Remnants Of Expansion  ( Dark Descent ,  2016 ) 02  Evoken  -  Atra Mors  ( Profound Lore ,  2012 ) 03  Antichrist  -  Pax Moriendi  ( Iron Bonehead ,  2018 ) 04  Blood Incantation  -  Starspawn  ( Dark Descent ,  2016 ) 05  None  -  Damp Chill Of Life  ( Hypnotic Dirge ,  2019 ) 06  Carcass  -  Surgical Steel  ( Nuclear Blast ,  2013 ) 07  Immolation  -  Atonement  ( Nuclear Blast ,  2017 ) 08  Necrot  -  Blood Offerings  ( Tankcrimes ,  2017 ) 09  Burzum  -  Belus  ( Byelobog ,  2010 ) 10  Spectral Voice  -  Necrotic Doom  ( Dark Descent ,  2015 )

Eitr - Hädanfärden ( Nordvis, 2018 ) This is the only Eitr release to date, although the Swedish artist behind the project (Henrik Sunding) does have a number of other aliases. Burzum influence aplenty here. Winterblood - Waldeinsamkeit ( Canto Críptico/Kunsthall Produktionen, 2018 ) Waldeinsamkeit is perhaps the strongest offering so far from this prolific Italian producer. It is rooted firmly at the dark ambient end of the dungeon synth spectrum.

Until Death Overtakes Me is a one-man band from Belgium. It/he has a lot of material, having been around since 1999; and there have apparently also been a number of aliases over the years. It's surprising that this wealth of output hasn't found more of an audience, given its quality - if this album is anything to go on, at least. Funeral doom meets  Burzum -style dark ambient/neo-classical/dungeon synth. Or, as more aptly-put by the artist himself, 'ambient funeral muzak'. Well Of Dreams (which can be heard below) is a collection of individually-released tracks from 2016. You can name your price for a Bandcamp  download, and the package includes high-resolution CD inserts for you to print at home.

If you like Burzum , you should also appreciate Strid. A lesser-known contemporary, but an originator of depressive black metal nevertheless. This compilation features the pioneering Norwegian black metal band's entire discography. It includes three demos and a 7" (amounting to thirteen tracks in total), all of which were recorded in the early '90s. The material is in reverse order - first up are three tracks from 1993-4; which are the main reason to hunt down a copy. Those are followed by ten tracks that were originally self-released under the name Malfeitor, during 1991-2, which are also well worth a listen. Brought to us by Kyrck Productions in 2007, the CD was limited to a thousand copies - so should be a lot harder to get hold of than it is. You can preview the first two tracks below, and purchase it  here .

Vaal ("Faded") is one of several projects from this Dutch solo artist, who is also responsible for the exceptional dungeon synth of  Old Tower . And indeed, this album does feature three dungeon synth tracks. The other five are black metal, with strong (early)  Burzum influences. Visioen Van Het Verborgen Land ("Vision Of The Hidden Land") is a highly enjoyable listen from beginning to end. It was released by New Era in 2019, and you can pick up a copy from  the Vaal Bandcamp .

Iron Bonehead has really been 'hitting it out of the park' this year. Ringarë is a collaboration between an American musician and a Swedish vocalist. This 35 minute 'demo' comes a year after their debut full-length (which was also released on Iron Bonehead). Sorrow Befell is an excellent atmospheric black metal offering, with some  Burzum influences. The whole affair is wreathed in majestic synth, and it concludes with a strong four-part dungeon synth-type instrumental. Alas, there is no CD release; but you can download it here  or order a limited edition vinyl copy  here . You can also preview a choice track from the album below.

AhnenHammer are a black metal duo from Austria. Seelenwinter is their first release, and so far it's only been made available on cassette (by Belgian label Iron Scourge). This is a lengthy demo - ten tracks, clocking in at around 43 minutes. It's raw stuff, but the songwriting is strong enough to shine through; and to catch your ear, even if you aren't a particular a fan of black metal. Evocative of Burzum, amongst other second wave bands. You can stream it below, and buy the tape  here .

21st February -   Invocation ( Chile, blackened death-doom ) -  Attunement To Death ( Iron Bonehead ) 28th February - Drown ( US, funeral doom ) -  Subaqueous ( Lupus Lounge/Vigor Deconstruct/Prophecy ) 13th March -   Burzum  ( Norway, dungeon synth/ambient ) -  Thulean Mysteries  ( Byelobog/Back On Black ) 13th March -   Rotting Kingdom  ( US, death-doom ) -  A Deeper Shade Of Sorrow  ( Boris/Godz Ov War )