Hawks
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Last Active 09-10-19 6:24 pm
Joined 03-11-08

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12.05.23 RAW BLACK METAL 101 W/ HAWKZ11.22.23 HAWKZ' BLACK METAL CHALLENGE PT. 2 (DEC
10.12.23 HAWKZ' BLACK METAL CHALLENGE PT. 1 (OCT ♦10.08.23 LAST FM???
09.21.23 DEFTONEZ RANKED AHRDDD!!!09.13.23 PANOPTICON RANKED AHRDDD!!!
09.07.23 ENSLAVED RANKED AHRDDDD09.05.23 IN FLAMES RANKED AHRDDD
08.25.23 INCANTATION RANKED AHRD!!!08.17.23 CULT OV LUNA RANKED AHRD!
08.14.23 U CAN'T BEAT CORPSES OF CANNIBALS!!!08.11.23 "MODERN" DEATH METAL???
08.08.23 BLACK METAL RECZ 4 BUDG & ALL!!!08.07.23 CRADLE OV FILTH RANKED M///
08.05.23 IMMOLATION RANKED!!! M///07.20.23 RIP BRANDON
07.19.23 Hey Guys06.17.21 DEATH RANKED M/EN
More »

HAWKZ' BLACK METAL CHALLENGE PT. 1 (OCTOBER/NOVEMBER)

M///////EN
1Leviathan
The Tenth Sub Level of Suicide

I WILL JAM 1 BM REC A DAY STARTING TOMORROW UNTIL END OF NOVEMBER (50 ALBUMS) AND GIVE MY THOUGHTS HERE!
2Mutiilation
Vampires of Black Imperial Blood

SIMPLE RULES: LIMIT 1 REC PER PERSON. IF U GUYS BLOW AND DON'T GIVE ENOUGH THEN ONE PERSON CAN GIVE MORE RECZ. OBVIOUSLY CHECK MY RATINGS BEFORE THROWING OUT A REC. THESE ARE THE BEST MONTHS FOR BM SO LETS DO IT UP! M/////EN
3La Torture des Tenebres
Civilization Is the Tomb of Our Noble Gods

Rec'd by AsleepInTheBack

October 13th

ANALYSIS: Well this challenge started with a bang. This album is absolute chaos. Raw black metal with HEAVY noise influences. The production holds it back a tad as everything can get a bit lost in the mix but overall this album is a banger. Great start!

RATING: 3.6
4Saidan
Jigoku: Spiraling Chasms of Blackst Hell

Rec'd by Kalk

October 14th

ANAYLSIS: FUCK THIS RIPZ!!! Raw, punky, melodic black metal. Everything I love about the genre wrapped into one.

RATING: 4.5

UPDATED RATING: 5

This is one of the best bm albums ever made and I cannot stop listening to it. The blend of melody and rawness is the best I've ever heard. This shit is flawless men.
5Ultra Silvam
The Sanctity of Death

Rec's by Game

October 15th

ANALYSIS: This is some sick ass riff heavy, thrashy stuff. Nothing particularly original but the RIFFS!

RATING: 3.7
6Akitsa
Goétie

Rec'd by Cylinder

October 16th

ANALYSIS: Now this right here, ladies and gentlemen, is exactly how black metal should sound. Lo-fi, abrasive, eerily uncomfortable and dirty as fuck. This is the third Akitsa album I've heard and it's by far the best of the three. m///

RATING: 4.4
7Nostalghia (MEX)
Duelo

Rec'd by Garas

October 17th

ANALYSIS: Pretty damn good DSMB/post-bm. Gets a bit samey and the vox, while really good for the most part, can get a bit grating at times. Still good stuff.

RATING: 3.3
8Christ Agony
Moonlight Act III

Rec'd by MO

October 18th

ANALYSIS: Where the hell has this album been all my life? Seriously I've been listening to black metal for almost 2 decades and never even heard of this. This album is epic as fuck, melodic, rifftastic second-wave black metal from Poland and it will rip your balls off. Absolutely amazing.

RATING: 4.8
9Vorgashore
turn towards Pechora

Rec'd by Mystagogus

October 19th

ANALYSIS: Another banger here men. Raw atmospheric black metal with ambient and even some electronic synths thrown in for good measure. Production sucks but it doesn't matter. Album slayz.

RATING: 4.2
10Hyngwar
Eternal Glory

Rec'd by NightOnDrunkMountain

October 20th

ANALYSIS: Damn this one SLAYZ! Melodic, folky, punky, lo-fi black metal with a Viking metal attitude. THROW THE HORNS UP FOR VALHALLA!

RATING: 4
11Rage Nucleaire
Unrelenting Fucking Hatred

Rec'd by Varuun

October 21st

ANALYSIS: CERTIFIED RIPPER HERE GENTS! I am a sucker for chaotic, apocalyptic bm in the vein of Anaal Nathrakh's late 2000s/early 2010s stuff and this is that and then some! Absolutely insane technical riffage to go along with Lord Worm's visceral shrieks. BANGER!

RATING: 4.5
12Xenoglyph
Spiritfraud

Rec'd by Pizza

October 22nd

ANALYSIS: Pizza my boy, u have redeemed yourself. This one is straight up rippage men. Idk why this band describes their music as psychedelic bm because this is more just melodic/atmospheric bm but either way it slayz. Tremz ov trvth. M///

RATING: 3.8
13White Ward
False Light

Rec'd by Zac

October 23rd

ANALYSIS: This rivals the Christ Agony for best album of the challenge so far. The blend of dark jazz with post-black metal is done so well and they intertwine perfectly creating a blissful atmosphere. They even throw in some well executed pop-punk sections here and there. Soothing and brutal at the same time. THUMBS UP ZAC!

RATING: 4.8
14Wake
Thought Form Descent

Rec'd by BlazinBlitzer

October 24th

ANALYSIS: This one is pretty good but pretty much just standard post-bm with little surprises or thrills. Very well executed, just doesn't "wow" me.

RATING: 3
15Corps Fleur
Corps Fleur

Rec'd by Shemson

October 25th

ANALYSIS: This is one of the best blackgaze albums I've heard in recent years. This is heavier and more bm than a lot of blackgaze I've heard but still has that dreamy atmosphere and tremz. This band is on to something men, their brand of blackaze is hypnotic and beautiful.

RATING: 4.5
16Djevel
Tanker som rir natten

Rec'd by Pika

October 26th

ANALYSIS: Ok Pika you did good, this slayz. Nothing like some good ole old-school sounding Norwegian black metal. Nothing original bit full of catchy melodic riffz and that's all I can ask for.

RATING: 3.5
17Trench Hell
Southern Cross Ripper

Rec'd by Budgie

October 27th

ANALYSIS: Man this is just straight-up first-wave Celtic Frost worship and I LOVE IT! Lo-fi, thrashy and dirty with some subtle southern rock influences thrown in as well. 0% originality, 100% rippage. M///

RATING: 3.8
18Mamaleek
He Never Spoke a Mumblin Word

Rec'd by Johnny

October 28th

ANALYSIS: Raw black metal mixed with industrial and even some fucking trip-hop??? Sounds weird but holy hell does it work. Kinda dungeon synth feeling without ever going into full blown dungeon synth. My only gripe is I wish it was longer.

RATING: 4
19Rhinocervs
RH-11

Rec'd by Deez

October 29th

ANLYSIS: Nothing like some Rhinocervs to get the blood pumping. Raw, punky, melodic black metal. Can't go wrong men.

RATING: 4.2
20Spectral Wound
A Diabolic Thirst

Rec'd by Spec

October 30th

ANALYSIS: Don't know why I didn't jam this sooner, this is a ripper. Idk what it is but Canadian bm bands have some of the catchiest riffs ever and the production is on point so ahrd.

RATING: 4.2
21Frostveil
Ephemeral Visions

Rec'd by 0XME

October 31st

ANALYSIS: Not feeling this one too much sadly. There's some good riffs but for the most part this just sounds like generic modern melodic bm that drags on way too long. Not awful by any means, just not anything that I see myself jamming again.

RATING: 2.5
22Orphique
Consécration Cadavérique

Rec'd by Naughtcturnal

November 1st

ANALYSIS: Mostlya mid paced affair here with fantastic atmosphere and chock full of catchy, melodic riffs. Canadian bm rarely disappoints and this is no exeption.

RATING: 4.2
23Leshiy
ПогаHые сны

Rec'd by Havey

November 2nd

ANALYSIS - Man this rulez. Raw, punky and even folky at times. Love the fuzzy yet still semi-clear production. Sweet riffs and the occasional acoustic sections. Definitely getting early Mutiilation/Sargeist and even some early Ulver vibes here. Has the attitude of the second wave Norwegian scene. Great stuff.

RATING: 3.8
24Rogaty
Diabeł

Rec'd by Coast

November 3rd

ANALYSIS: Sorry Coast bro, this is fucking AWFUL lmao. Like one of the worst albums I've ever heard. Any album that is absolutely devoid of any good or memorable riffs and has a flacid, wannabe experimental atmosphere is a no-go for me. And the vox are some of the worst I've ever heard on a bm album. It's like if Rotting Christ lost all their charm and stopped creating catchy riffs. Just so fucking bad I actually wanna cry. :[[[

RATING: 1
25Blood Abscission
I

Rec'd by Muzz

November 4th

ANALYSIS: Back on track with this one would be an understatement. Amazingly executed atmospheric/melodic black metal with some fantastic synth work sprinkled in. Kinda gives me the hazy feeling of the first releases of the Cascadian USBM scene (mainly WITTR and/or Weakling) with more melody. Definitely a contender for best album here so far.

RATING: 4.8
26Amalekim
Avodah Zarah

Rec'd by Dewi

November 5th

ANALYSIS: This is some damn good modern sounding bm from Italy folks. Not much originality to be found but you know what you can find here? FUCKING RIFFS! This thing is chock full of them along with some fantastic melodies. This is a winner men.

RATING: 3.5
27Daedric Armour
Daedric Armour

Rec'd by ComeToDaddy

November 6th

ANALYSIS: Pretty straightforward, chaotic bm with pretty good production. Riffs pretty ahrd but not much variety or dynamics going on here. Solid for sure but not much more.

RATING: 3.1
28Lux Occulta
My Guardian Anger

Rec'd by Grimlin

November 7th

ANALYSIS: This is how symphonic bm is done. Sounds like some kind of demonic carnival. Tons of catchy riffs and the synths are perfectly done and not overblown. Gives me early/mid era Dimmu vibes tbh. Awesome album.

RATING: 4.2
29Phantom Spire
Black Spells of Hearts so Pure

Rec'd by Oltna

November 8th

ANALYSIS: I don't know what it is about the mixture of medieval dungeon synth and raw black metal but it really greases my wheel men. This honestly has the sound of a band of knights playing lo-fi, synth heavy, even funeral doom-esque at times DSBM before riding off to war on horseback lol. Like I just mentioned, synths are the highlight here with everything else taking a back seat. This is one of the best dungeon synth/bm combos I've heard yet tbh. Amazing vox on this one too.

RATING: 4.6
30Kaatayra
Toda História pela Frente

Rec'd by Elynna

November 9th

ANALYSIS: Holy FUCK is this awesome and unique as hell. Atmospheric bm in the vein of early Panopticon fused with Brazlilian folk music and some psychedelic as well. The drumming here is absolutely bonkers and yes, there are tons of riffs and also some sublime acoustic work and sounds of Brazilian nature for good measure. This is the perfect balance of brutality and beauty, chaos and relaxation. The transitions from black metal assaults to the relaxing, authentic folk parts are so seamless and well done. Vox are a mix of angelic cleans, visceral shrieks and an almost uncomfortable shouting, all of which are fantastic. Just a stunning album in every sense of the word. I've said this a few times now (credit to y'all tbh), but THIS is the best album of the challenge so far.

RATING: 4.9
31Ashenspire
Hostile Architecture

Rec'd by Def

November 10th

ANALYSIS: There is A LOT going on here. Black metal with jazzy saxophones playing a key role is always a pleasant combo but I feel like this one will take time to grow more. The atmosphere is dense as all hell and is even kinda claustrophobic. Not a bad thing at all but there's just so much to decipher here. Super eerie, almost chanting clean vox (a la A Forest of Stars) are a highlight for me so far. Really good stuff, but could be even better with more jams.

RATING: 3.6
32Gyibaaw
Ancestral War Hymns

Rec'd by PizzaBear

November 11th

ANALYSIS: This is some super intense war metal right here. Kinda reminiscent of Blasphemy in their early days but with some nice acoustic breaks here and there. Like the calm before the storm of riffs and blast beats bite your knee caps off. Gotta shout out the drumming on this one, it is fucking fantastic. Also the prodution is perfect for this style of music. Great stuff!

RATING: 4
33Arctos
Beyond the Grasp of Mortal Hands

Rec'd by Frozencarl

November 12th

ANALYSIS: This was honestly not at all what I was expecting and I was pleasntly surprised. Top tier atmospheric/epic black metal with some amazing melodic riffs and solos. The viking metal influences are apparent too. Some really epic stuff here.

RATING: 4.3
34Necropole
Yoga

Rec'd by Pyroflare77

November 13th

ANALYSIS: This is some sick riff heavy modern sounding black metal with some cool psychedelic influences. Reminds me of a more experimental version of Mgla. Has the same beefy production sound while not being too clean. Vox here are fantastic also.

RATING: 4
35Thus Defiled
Wings of the Nightstorm

Rec'd by Sixdegrees

November 14th

ANALYSIS: Really digging this one. It really gives me some nostalgic feelings of when I was first getting into bm. Pretty typical 90s meloblack but it brings the riffs ahrd and the keys are on point. Another one with some really great vox too damn.

RATING: 4.2
36Entropia (PL)
Total

Rec'd by Lichtbringer

November 15th

ANALYSIS: I mean this is more post/sludge/hardcore with some blackened aspects than it is actual bm but holy fuck does it SLAY. Entropia's previous album really disappointed me considering how great their first 2 albums are but they got back on track with this one. Main highlight is the guitars for sure. So many great riffs and that's key considering this album is like 90% instrumental. The atmosphere is super dense and heavy but also warm and inviting tbh. This could POSSIBLY be their best album.

RATING: 4.4
37Petrychor
Dryad

Rec'd by Zar

November 16th

ANALYSIS: This band was always right on thr verge of being great with the exception of thei most recent album cause that one blows but something has always been missing for me. Don't get me wrong, this is a really solid piece of atmospheric/folk bm, but this band just doesn't have that "it" factor for me to put them over the top. Production here is a bit too muffled for me, making it hard to hear everything going on tbh. The folk elements here are super well done. Def a highlight for me.

RATING: 3.4
38Anorexia Nervosa
Drudenhaus

Rec'd by CamiloG

November 17th

ANALYSIS: This is really good stuff, albeit pretty standard symphonic bm. The vox of this band have always been a highlight for me. The album as a whole has great keyboard work (and vox as mentioned) but there's not much riffage going here. Overall very solid though.

RATING: 3.4
39Esoctrilihum
Dy'th Requiem for the Serpent Telepath

Rec'd by Piglet

November 18th

ANALYSIS: Definitely not as good as everything else I've heard from this band. It's dece but a very mid-paced affair that doesn't really go anywhere. There's some good riffs but this whole thing just feels very samey and meh overall.

RATING: 2.5
40Etoile Filante
Magnum Opus Caelestis

Rec'd by Rastapunk

November 19th

ANALYSIS: Man this one ripz. Super dreamy atmosphere that puts you in an immediate trance with some electronic and ambient thrown in to give almost a "spacey" vibe but not quite cosmic bm like Darkspace or Midnight Odyssey or others like that because of the blackgazeyness (yes I made that word up). This one definitely pulled me in, slayz.

RATING: 4.2
41Gudsforladt
Friendship, Love and War

Rec'd by Kev

November 20th

ANALYSIS: I imagine this is what it would sound like if you mixed 70s/80s Judas Priest with early Summoning. This is quite the experience. Heavy NWBHM riffing here to go with the epic folk tinged atmosphere. The best way to describe this is very 70s inspired traditional heavy metal/psychedelic influenced raw/melodic/epic bm.....and it absolutely fucking rulez. Amazing find here.

RATING: 4.7
42Oferwintran
It Often Befalls Those

Rec'd by Eclecticism

November 21st

ANALYSIS: Another one that is pretty standard meloblack with raw production. Might be standard but there's still lots of catchy riffs here that save it from being just another bm album to toss in the bin. Unspectacular, yet very solid and enjoyable.

RATING: 3.4
43Crimson Moonlight
Songs From The Archives

Rec'd by Smok

November 22nd

ANALYSIS: Smok with another great symphonic bm rec. This is like 85% live recordings and they rip so ahrd. Whoever plays the piano in this band slayz because that is a huge highlight for me. Another great example of how to not overdo the synths in symphonic bm.

RATING: 4.1
44Odraza
Rzeczom

Rec'd by Twilight

November 23rd

ANALYSIS: Idk what it is about Polish bm but it seems to be the grimiest of all bm scenes. I mean you can feel the filth flowing through this thing. It paints the picture of a decaying world, which is accurate in our shitty world today. This is mostly mid-tempo stuff with many fantastic riffs and an overall sludgy feeling. The vox are the highlight here for me though. They are absolutely barbaric. Album fucking SLAYZ.

RATING: 4.3
45Ruins (AUS)
Cauldron

Rec'd by Belovdd

November 24th

ANAYLSIS: I love me some DSO worship every now and again and that's pretty much exactly what this is. Not a bad thing cause this fucking ripz. Lots of great dissonant riffs and sick drumming to go with some extrememly tortured sounding vox. Was expecting this to be generic meloblack based on the album art. Very pleasantly surprised.

RATING: 3.8
46Mahr
Maelstrom

Rec'd by Porcupine

November 25th

ANAYLSIS: Holy fuck this shit is INTENSE. It kinda reminds me of Ash Borer if you ran them through a buzzsaw. The atmosphere here is suffocating and noisy. The (excellent and semi-punk influenced) riffs and vox are muffled beyond belief and it's a mess....but the mess is enchanting. You want to be in the eye of a storm? Jam this album one time and prepare to have your fucking socks knocked off. Top notch atmospheric bm.

RATING: 4.4
47Baazlvaat
The Higher Power

Rec'd by Zip

November 26th

ANALYSIS: This kinda reminds me of Lepra's new album (GO CZECH IT NOW) but substitute the gothic influence for a more folk oriented sound. The problem with this is it goes on too long. If this was cut by like 15 minutes I think I'd dig a lot more. The production is also a huge problem. I love lo-fi production but this is a bit too muffled and everything sounds quiet. Best part is def the psychedelic influenced riffage. Idk, its ok but I'll prob never jam again tbh.

RATING: 2.8
48Negura Bunget
'N Crugu Bradului

Rec'd by Insomniac

November 27th

ANALYSIS: It took me over a decade to get into Om....not having the same problem with this at all. This thing fucking SLAYZ from the very beginning. Atmosphere here is fantastic and the blend of folk with ferocious bm is masterfully done. Wish I had tried this album years ago, I've been missing out. Tons of catchy riffs here and the drumming is phenomenal. Really great stuff.

RATING: 4.6
49Fellwinter
The Dawn of Winter

Rec'd by Balerion

November 28th

ANALYSIS: This one is mostly in the Satanic Warmaster brand of raw, melodic bm but not anywhere near as engaging tbh. This isn't bad by any means, but it's very samey and drags ahrd despite being less than 40 minutes long. There's good melodic riffs but that's not enough to warrant multiple listens.

RATING: 2.9
50Mooncitadel
Night's Scarlet Symphonies

Rec'd by Necropig

November 29th

ANALYSIS: Idgaf about this guys views or ideologies, this fucking RIPZ. Extremely epic and raw folk bm with tons of riffs and sick synth work. Very similar to Nokturnal Mortum but more intense. This is full of fantastic melodies but it's also heavy as FUCK. Absolute ripper here.

RATING: 4.3
51Avenger
Feast of Anger / Joy of Despair

Rec'd by Hype

November 30th

ANALYSIS: Really groovy, mid-tempo stuff right here. The riffs are the obvious highlight. Lots of Middle Eastern sounding riffs to give it a sweet atmosphere. Production is super clean and works for this style of bm. My only complaint is that it's a bit bloated and probably could've been cut down just a bit.

RATING: 3.6
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