Ellende – Zerfall (2026) – Review

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Forest Metal didn’t fill the RMR crew with praise in 2025. You know, those bands dwelling mainly in the Bavarian and Austrian woodlands. Thorondir kind of made it over the threshold, albeit just barely. But Waldgeflüster got lost in the jungle of their own thoughts and emotions. And – in turn – then lost us. High expectations brutally squashed, that kind of thing.

But hey, never give up hope, right? Ellende are back with new material just when 2026 finally lurches into focus.1 If you recall, Todbringering made it onto our zine in 2024 with a remake of an … [...] Click to raid more!

Malevolent 2024: Rough-hewn, blasphemous, and feisty!

Malevolent 2024 Series - Devils on a rampage

After an excellent crop of malevolent items showcased in the Year of the Dark Lord 2022, last year’s blood-thirsty urges didn’t warrant such a list. Allegedly. But for 2024, these terrible 365 days, there seems to be enough material to slake our thirst for the dark and daemonic. To the point that vile Death and Black Metal records started to pile up over at the RMR office. The consequence? RMR ended up with too much material than would be good for this here list. So, we had to make a choice. Only records exuding the vile breath of Astaroth were … [...] Click to raid more!

Ellende – Todbringerin (2024) – Review

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Ellende - Todbringerin - Album Cover

Remakes only sparsely grace our review pipe. There must be a couple at best, and that’s for good reason. Usually, the RMR crew prefers the raw material, the stuff that came before, the real thing. And not some crazy-ass remix with – Loki forbid – some atrocious synth-pop elements added for fun. You get all kinds, y’know, and not everything is pretty.

But – as always – exceptions do apply and Ellende is one of them. Since the 2022 piece Ellenbogengesellschaft hit our turntables, the RMR crew holds this artist in the highest esteem. Thus, Todbringerin will get a shot … [...] Click to raid more!

Weltenbrandt – Transzendenz Schatten Romantik (2024) – Review

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Weltenbrandt - Transzendenz Schatten Romantik - Album Cover

Ellende is on our minds a lot these days. Todbringerin is their newest record and it’s ear-catching. And to no-one’s surprise, it messed up our turntables for way too long. A style we have trouble resisting, even if the doom ‘n’ gloom can weigh heavily on one’s soul.

And speaking about which. Lo and behold, out of nowhere Weltenbrandt loudly made its presence known. Yet another band wallowing in the murky depths of an almost gothic sadboi melancholy that roars forth in some established blackened splendor. An underground band that only the initiated will recognize. But then, mainstream fame never … [...] Click to raid more!