Halphas – Sermons of the Black Flame (2024) – Review

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A black mass, a genuine salacious ritual, is on the horizon. One with a sturdy and truly wild theme that will make this pitch-black year of 2024 ominously glow in darkened colors. Unspeakable and unholy rites that happen in forlorn corners of haunted woods and away from prying eyes.

But the wait will still be long until that time. So, in the meantime, we’ll take in some sermons to get the Dark Lord’s attention. The ones of the Black Flame. Halphas just returned from the undead to the stage and an unholy hunger fills them. Dark greetings to thee.… [...] Click to raid more!

Counting Hours – The Wishing Tomb (2024) – Review

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‘Tis the Month ov Doom? We’re not sure yet. But some excellent slabs of woe dropped in this short month of February. And that’s encouraging. A month that should be cold, dreary, and frozen, sublime in its desolate splendor. Fertile grounds for misery and tribulation, right?

And yet, a sickly uncanny warmth has greeted our shores this early 2024. And that might be cause more depression, too, for some at least. Add to that all the geopolitical troubles afloat these days. And there you have it: Sumpy, festering, and fertile grounds for more sorrow and melancholy. So, let us quake … [...] Click to raid more!

Tvinna – Two – Wings of Ember (2024) – Review

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The RMR review desk did not expect that. We got to know Tvinna through their two clips Kreiz and The Gore. Then – somehow – communications broke down and we missed record number one. And since that time, nada.

So, while wondering what gives with this band, By Norse suddenly latched onto our feed with Two – Wings of Ember, their sophomore record. And once we hit play, no ethereal Dark Folk with an earthy and primordial touch appeared. Instead, much to our surprise, a funky mélange of rock-infested styles, tastes, and flavors roared out of the music … [...] Click to raid more!

Stygian Crown – Funeral for a King (2024) – Review

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Stygian Crown‘s 2020 self-titled album led to a lot of head-scratching over at the RMR Review Desk. A debut full of rough ‘n’ dirty metal, stomping riffs, harsh blast beats, and the singer’s almighty roar. All the ingredients were there, with established veterans of pain and tribulation hard at work. Proto doom in action, like. And yet, this – thing often felt like a square peg in a round hole.

So, here we are more or less four years later and the band’s ready to unchain their sophomore album Funeral For a King. An interment worthy of a … [...] Click to raid more!