garas
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Reviews 27
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Album Edits 787

Album Ratings 1937
Objectivity 79%

Last Active 05-20-20 9:35 am
Joined 09-29-17

Forum Posts 1
Review Comments 5,247

Average Rating: 3.44
Rating Variance: 0.61
Objectivity Score: 79%
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5.0 classic
Abhor (ITA) Occulta religiO
Damn, I totally have not expected this to be *this* overhelmingly good! This a purely perfect theatratical black metal album. The atmosphere is so elegantly mysterious and sinister... simply nails my ideal in the genre. Fantastically well produced album, many bands could learn from this sound. Church organs, strongly heavy metal influenced (first wave-ish) black metal, and a beautifully pleasing and organic production... here it goes a 5.0!
AC/DC Highway To Hell
Alestorm Captain Morgan's Revenge
Amorphis Tuonela
Andavald Undir Skyggðarhaldi
What the hell is going on in Iceland??? Most impressive.
Antestor The Forsaken
Oh well, I have to admit I love this album to death. Cheesy, riffs hard and they had Hellhammer behind the drumkit - the album speaks for itself. Unblack or not, this is definitely a standout release, and a unique piece of black metal with the Christian lyrics and concept behind it. Also: hey, it has a purple cover, which makes it instantly a great atmoblack album. Antestor rules. *casts Smite Evil for extra epicness*
Bathory Blood Fire Death
Bathory Nordland I & II
Double albums means double effect. The Nordland I-II double LP stands as a perfect epitome of viking metal, which cannot be outmatched.
Black Sabbath Paranoid
Black Sabbath Sabotage
One of the best outputs of Black Sabbath.
Blink-182 Greatest Hits
Burzum Hvis lyset tar oss
Burzum Det som engang var
Burzum Filosofem
Burzum Aske
Candlemass Nightfall
Carpathian Forest Black Shining Leather
Carpathian Forest Defending the Throne of Evil
Carpathian Forest always stood out from the BM scene because of their uncanny self awareness, and with this one they created the heaviest (kinda symphonic) atmoblack album ever. Tons of crushing and massive riffs, majestic synths, and gruesome vocals. Thuggish, yet elegantly sinister.
Carpathian Forest Journey Through The Cold Moors Of Svarttjern
What a beautiful demo! I instantly fell in love with it: the atmopshere, the aesthetics, the melancholic melodies... simply perfect!
Carpathian Forest We're Going to Hell for This - Over a Decade ...
Darkthrone Under a Funeral Moon
Darkthrone Panzerfaust
Darkthrone Too Old, Too Cold
Darkthrone The Underground Resistance
Purest form of metal. Any rating on this under 4.0 is invalid. Sorry, I did not make the rules.
Deafheaven Roads to Judah
Deafheaven Sunbather
Deafheaven New Bermuda
Depressive Silence Depressive Silence II
Depressive Silence Twenty-Five Years
Dethklok The Dethalbum
Dio Holy Diver
Dodheimsgard 666 International
Dodheimsgard Satanic Art
Perfection. That's what i've been looking for years!
Dodheimsgard A Umbra Omega
Evilfeast Elegies of the Stellar Wind
There is one big problem with this album: it sets your standards extremly high in atmoblack, since your chances of finding yet another brilliant release like this are nearly zero. From the perfect guitar tone, through the exciting yet somewhat traditional song structures, to the mesmerizing synths... 'Elegies of the Stellar Wind' has it all, and stands as probably the highest quality atmoblack ever existed. And thinking about this masterpiece was created only by GrimSpirit... it's incredible! I got the goosebumps at each listen even after countless listens.
Fief IV
Fief I​-​IV
One of the shiniest gems in my collection. The title says it all: the whole Fief collection on double CD. Exceptionally good medieval ambient music, a must-have, an absolute classic.
Forest Silence Winter Circle
This the greatest example of black ambient. A dense, dark, and sinister atmospheric masterpiece.
Gustav Holst The Planets, Op. 32
Hellvetic Frost Misanthropic Devotion
Howard Shore The Fellowship of the Ring
Howard Shore The Lord of the Rings: Complete Trilogy
Immortal Sons of Northern Darkness
Immortal Pure Holocaust
Riffs cold as ice.
Immortal Battles in the North
Isengard Høstmørke
Johann Sebastian Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
John Williams Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope
John Williams Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
John Williams Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Judas Iscariot Thy Dying Light
I don't really do instant 5.0s, but this is an exception with a good reason, because this is among the greatest second wave black metal albums from the late '90s. The simple yet crushing riffs, the aesthetics, the super strong mid-tempo sections... everything is just right, nothing is overdone and the album flows nicely. Most impressed.
Kvelertak Meir
Mastodon Leviathan
Mayhem Live in Leipzig
Mayhem Grand Declaration of War
Mayhem Deathcrush
Mayhem Henhouse Recordings
Megadeth Rust in Peace
Megadeth Countdown to Extinction
Morbid / Mayhem A Tribute To The Black Emperors
An essential compilation album which immortalizes Per Yngve Ohlin/Dead's works. Despite this is an extremly bootlegged release, this is still the most precise collection of songs from the best and trvest vocalist in black metal.
Mort Garson Plantasia
Pentagram First Daze Here (The Vintage Collection)
"No band can sound as good as Sabbath did... Now hol' up!" An incredibly fun and great album, which embodies everything you may know about what is old-school. Pentagram rules m/
Pink Floyd The Wall
Queen Hungarian Rhapsody: Live in Budapest
Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine
Return to Forever Romantic Warrior
Richard Strauss Also sprach Zarathustra
Ah, it is so good. The ever-changing flow of moods and atmopsheres make this a 5/5 classical piece (for me).
Samael Ceremony Of Opposites
Satanic Warmaster Carelian Satanist Madness
Satanic Warmaster Strength & Honour
Satyricon Nemesis Divina
Satyricon Dark Medieval Times
Skarpseian Fragmenter Av Trolldom
Blending the past with the present, 'Fragmenter Av Trolldom' is another perfect album from the modern age of dungeon synth. Each song has its own aura, and the overall gloomy and magical atmosphere is simply perfect. *garas's seal of approval*, of course.
Sunn O))) Monoliths and Dimensions
Thangorodrim Taur​-​nu​-​Fuin
The most magical Tolkien-inspired album you would ever hear. This album is full of charming,
unforgettable and epic melodies. A fantastic musical experience, one of the shiniest pearl in the
oceans of music. Who gives a rating under 4.0 probably can't enjoy music at all... (Bonus: to get
this treausre on physical is very challenging.)
The Rolling Stones Singles Collection: The London Years
Thorns Thorns
Thy Catafalque Rengeteg
Ulver Bergtatt - Et eeventyr i 5 capitler
Ulver Shadows of the Sun
Ulver Teachings In Silence
Ulver Silencing the Singing
Ulver ATGCLVLSSCAP
Vaa Ur sägen och hävd
AOTY contender neoclassical / dungeon synth. I have no words to describe how beautiful is this...
Wilson Tanner 69
Windrikje Frostland
This is it, the most perfect winter synth album ever made. The mysterious, ancient and powerful aura which fills the entire album is indescribable. Magical.
Zyklon-B Blood Must Be Shed
Aldrahn, Samoth, Ihsahn, and Frost in the same album... Mad riffs, machinegun drums, insane and terrifying lyrics, and haunting synths - all together, an uniquely evil atmosphere has been created. Essential BM demo.

4.5 superb
...and Oceans Cosmic World Mother
Outstanding atmoblack release. Thuggish, heavy, great synths, perfect runtime - everything is given. They kept a tiny little dose of industrial as well, but I liked this modern ...And Oceans more, I think. Cathartic 'til the end.
Acid Bath When the Kite String Pops
Akercocke Renaissance in Extremis
Antonin Dvorak Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, B. 178
Anubis (Fr) Cradle of Civilization
Apoxupon How the Garden Grows
Arcturus Constellation
Cheesy as fuck!! This contains just traces of black metal, extremly synth dominant album. Here and there it sounds "funny", but it is still manages to stay somewhat majestic. Very unique and so much fun. I love it!
Avox Desolate Land
Awesome (real) old-school dungeon synth album. Something is truly magical in this one.
Bathory Blood on Ice
Bathory Nordland I
Be'lakor Stone's Reach
Finest melodeath album I've ever heard.
Beherit Engram
Beherit Bardo Exist
Another twist in Beherit's discography: another electronic/dark ambient album! And it is also among the best works of Nuclear Holocausto. Dense, dark and cryptic atmosphere, crispy textures, great analog synths and great vocals... looks like Beherit follows the Ulver-path now.
Black Anvil As Was
Still one of my favourite meloblack albums, and the way how much I find this an "easy listening" says a lot. The clean vocals are easily the most memorable component, and the way they insterted them into their sound is really original, and has an oddly "uplifting" feel time to time, meanwhile the harsh vocals and the more sinister (yet really heavy metal-ish) riffs bring a certain elegant vibe and atmosphere into the picture - and in my opinion, this makes it a very memorable, pleasant album, a rare kind of modern black metal release which really ages well.
Black Anvil Miles
Such an elegant, wonderfully diverse EP, excellent presentation of the band's talent: crushing/proggy black metal, bluesy moments, a great Merciful Fate cover... EP of the year.
Black Label Society Catacombs of the Black Vatican
Black Sabbath Heaven and Hell
Bloodbath The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn
Oh yes. The sound of HM-2 pleases my ears. m/ m/ m/
Botanist VI: Flora
Burzum Belus
Burzum The Ways of Yore
Burzum Thulêan Mysteries
Lots of familiar melodies and sounds, but still something new and exciting. The new (and probably last) Burzum album combined every strength of all the dungeon synth / ambient releases, making it Varg's best and strongest ambient output. A lengthy, but highly atmospheric release, which mostly builds on old-school synths and folk instruments. Fortunately this is lot more similar to "Yore" than "Sol austan", so it was technically impossible for me to not love this album. I wish songs like 'The Sacred Well', 'Gathering Herbs', 'The Ettin Stone Heart' etc. would be longer...
Candlemass Tales of Creation
Typical Candlemass-greatness. The guitarwork is legendary (I love the aggressive, fuzzy guitar tone a lot!), and the rhytm section, especially the drums, sound lot better than in the previous albums - a small change, but it means a lot. (But Nightfall is still their unbeatable masterpiece.)
Carcass Heartwork
Carpathian Forest Through Chasm, Caves And Titan Woods
Carpathian Forest Morbid Fascination of Death
Carpathian Forest produces awesome albums like it's nothing - yet somehow they're criminally underrated... I can't help it: I'm in love with this hard rock influenced style of black metal. And when the synths are involved...ah, sounds evil and sinister, which is fantastic! And as usual, there are some greatly experimental songs as well like "Cold Comfort" which sounds like Carpathian Forest-Ulver collaboration (if only...). And saxophones in black metal never sounded so good.
Celestial Bloodshed Ω
Fantasic album, and I totally didn't expect this greatness. It feels like this album mixes several styles of black metal together, like listening to Mayhem, Carpathian Forest, Gorgoroth etc. at the same time! The vocal performance is outstanding, and also pretty interesting as well - like fusing the vocals style of Per Yngve Ohlin and Attila Csihar together, which results a passionate, overwhelming and horryfing sounds - and I love it, Steingrim Torson was a fantastic vocalist.
Cosmic Wheels Cosmic Wheels
Darkspace Dark Space I
It is SO good, enjoyed (almost) every minute of it, and I've just noticed: oh, the album has just ended. Super agressive riffs, and the grim, spacey, sharp atmosphere... the album offered everything I carve for; everything makes an atmoblack album outstanding. Also: this is the best Darkspace album. Period.
Darkthrone Sardonic Wrath
Darkthrone Soulside Journey
Darkthrone Old Star
This Old Star still shines brightly: the new doomy Darkthrone kicks ass.
Deadwood Picturing a Sense of Loss
Sunny vibes. This is probably the best blackgazey album I've heard since Deafheaven's stuff.
Deafheaven Demo
Deafheaven 10 Years Gone
My "secondary-AOTY". Even though I know them "only" for 5 years, this was a very memorable compilation with a tracklist which has almost all of my most favourite songs by them. The dynamic, dreamesque blackgaze masterpieces flow perfectly together, and there is nothing to complain about. (Maybe the odd feeling when I've heard no pianos in "The Pecan Tree", but that's alright.) Listening to "10 Years Gone" is an extraordinary and great pleasure to hear/feel our favourite Deafheaven songs, and especially the pink noisy hug through the two songs at the end felt the most precious. Thanks for everything.
Depressive Silence The Darkened Empires
Desolate Moon Phases Heathenstones
Best drone album this year (so far). Interesting, it feels sci-fi-esque and ancient in the
same time...very-very atmospheric.
Devil Master Manifestations
Dio The Collection
Dunjon Magik Dunjon Magik
Brilliant. Exciting blend of modern dungeon synth and synth music from the '90s. The atmosphere is uniquely sinister and magical - true dungeon music!
Emglev Noz Veil
Mesmerizing work, a truly overlooked (and kind of hidden) dungeon synth gem. The atmosphere is exceptional, the synth sounds are gorgeous - I was really surprised when I found out this is from '96! Wonderful work, I fell in love on my first listen.
Erang Kingdom Of Erang
Absolutely beautiful dungeon synth. Rich, diverse, masterfully produced. Shame on me for overlooking it for years... very close to a 5.0. (Terrible album cover tho, haha!)
Erik Wollo Infinite Moments
Creating layers of oddly harmonic feelings, Erik Wollo delivers top quality drone ambient using only electric guitar.
Fief III
Fiendish Imp Fiendish Imp
Gaahls Wyrd GastiR - Ghosts Invited
Strong AOTY candidate for me. Fantastic performance, very creative (and progressive) songwriting,
and phenomenal vocals. And yeah, the drums are totally impressive. How dares this band to be THIS
good?
Gnoll Music for Dungeons
Gnoll Zargo's Lords
I have no idea how can Heimat Der Katastrophe put out so many awesome releases... I sense some serious magic behind this - especially about artists like Gnoll. The mysterious project's recent output is simply brilliant, top tier dungeon synth music. I simply can't get enough about this kind of fantasy-inspired releases like this, because these keep constantly blow my mind. "Zargo's Lords" is probably the very best what Gnoll ever released. The progression of each song is phenomenal, every melody and instrument is exciting, and the whole package flows like a dream. Just listen to this already, you'll understand.
Goatsnake 1 + Dog Days
Goblin Profondo Rosso
Simply top notch spooky progressive rock.
Green Druid Ashen Blood EP
Green Lung Woodland Rites
Grieve (FIN) Grieve
This might be the EP of the year? This is some top tier melodic/atmoblack, presented by an insanely strong lineup. Members of Horna, Satanic Warmaster and Vargrav? Most impressive what they could come up with together.
Hades Almighty Alone Walkyng
Hajduk Природа
This is 100% my taste in lo-fi black metal: strong folk and ambient elements, minimalist riffing, distant and grim atmosphere. Very nice. One spot in my year end list is taken. *garas's seal of approval*
Hallas Excerpts From a Future Past
This album is just simply fantastic. I see why does Fenriz love them so much. The 70s have been born again, and this doesn't sound any dusty at all. These guys are super talented - the proggy touch and those synths are fascinating. And I must confess: I fell in love with 'Star Rider' on my very first listen.
Hallas Conundrum
Another beautiful album by the Swede retro-band. Mesmerizing creation, exciting and adventurous! Wonderful album, and deserves lot more attention! Hällas rules m/
Havukruunu Uinuos Syömein Sota
Insanely good Bathory-worship and Finnish meloblack... ON SPEED! Riffs after riffs, awesome shredding and a more folkish (kinda Ulver-ish) sound: all these together is just simply fantastic, Havukruunu leveled up.
Hexenwood Witchthrone
Fantastic fusion of ancient Hungarian folk music and crushing black metal. Pretty straightforward, insanely riffs and guitar tone, simple yet effective song-structures, the mix is spot on and the folk parts & lyrics are enchanting. Perfect score.
Hexenwood Regevándor
Another damned good album: perfect mix of the old Hungarian pagan folk music and the raw, harsh black metal. Only thing is a bit annyoing is the weaker mixing compared to the first album. But the riffs are just as crushing!
Horna Envaatnags Eflos Solf Esgantaavne
A peak in the band's discography, Envaatnags Eflos Solf Esgantaavne is all about great melodic riffs in the spirit of the old-school ways. Songs like 'Kirous Ja Malja' are easily in the same league with Satanic Warmaster's best outputs.
Horna Sanojesi Aarelle
Punching riff-fest. Seemingly they aimed for writing longer tracks for this one, and personally I do believe it was a rather succesful approach, and it gave plenty of place to certain songs to "bloom out". Filled with raw energy, it was a simply fantastic straight-forward black metal release. Title track is easily among their best songs.
Horna Perimä Vihassa Ja Verikostossa
Mega EP! This is a purely massive piece of black metal release from the more meloldic branch of the genre. RIFFS!! I wish they could have recorded this in a better quality, because it is near-classic material.
Horna Kuoleman Kirjo
The "cleanest" Horna album ever, a drastic change from their raw BM style. I think this was a welcomed change with this album, because this more modern production could bring out so much of this concept. Don't expect less than the typical Horna greatness: endless waves of melodic black metal riffs - I was so right about Shatraug kept his best ideas for this band! The best second wave-worship album in 2020.
Immortal At the Heart of Winter
Immortal Damned In Black
Internal Rot Mental Hygiene
Simply mad, super massive riff fest. Absolute grindcore [2]
Iron Monkey 9-13
Iron Reagan The Tyranny Of Will
John Mayall Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton
Kasjchq / Siege Tower Split
Kataxu North
Extremly overlooked atmoblack greatness. Raw, very synth-dominant - that's how I like it.
Kate Bush Hounds of Love
The only reason I don't 5.0 this, because I found the B-side generally lot more exciting than the A-side with the so-called "big hits". The album has such an unique atmosphere...! There is so much thing going on, and I greatly admire her imagination. Like comparing my two favourites from the album ("Watching You Without Me" & "Hello Earth") is already odd enough, because they're so different, but still feel connected... by her voice and her fantasy. Ah, this is simply a fascinating release.
Korhadt VTTCK
A slow, massively doomy and gloomy, horroric release. This is not an easy listen, very close
to what I experienced with 'Black One' by Sunn O))) - and this is just as heavy.
Krampusnacht Krampusnacht
Lamentation As Shadow Kingdom Comes To My Sight
Lunar Womb The Sleeping Green
Mastodon Cold Dark Place
Mayhem Wolf's Lair Abyss
Mayhem Out from the Dark
Mayhem De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive
Megadeth Risk
Not really a 4.5 but since it has infinite replay value I gave it. If you have no expectations you can truly enjoy this album. They took risk, and I'm glad they did: each song stands well on it's own and pretty fun to listen to. The mix is great, the song length's are spot on, and Dave's singing is exceptionally good. I enjoy this a lot lately.
Metallica No Life 'til Leather
Mightiest Whatever Ground We May Roam
This is probably the one of the best black metal demos I've ever heard. Diverse, heavy, epic.
Mortiis The Stargate
Murgrind The Power of Yourself
Fantastic EP! Murgrind single-handedly created one of the best DS releases of the year with this one long track. Masterfully produced and composed, super exciting and inspiring, with strong LoTR vibes... the atmosphere is also spot on!
Murmuure Murmuure
Mycologia Assorted Mushrooms of New England
Exceptional album, both in style and concept: Berlin-school dungeon synth about various mushrooms in New England? A winner combo. Definitely one of the best DS albums this year.
Myrkur Folkesange
I really needed this. Beatiful nordic folk + Amalie Bruun's heavenly voice = pure gold. Productionwise speaking, the album is excellent, the instrumentation really matches to her singing, and all those uplifting melodies make this a perfectly relaxing album. Great year for folk music!
Mysticum In the Streams of Inferno
N'Zwaa Maha Kali
Unexpectedly fantastic blackened death metal (with some psychedelic and drone elements). Horror vocals, killer riffs and the production is spot on. (4.7)
Narsilion Nerbeleth
Old Sorcery Realms of Magickal Sorrow
Om God Is Good
Om Advaitic Songs
Owls Woods Graves Citizenship of the Abyss
Super tasty black metal/punk served raw. Maybe it's not the best, but surely one of the most fun
albums of the year.
Paysage d'Hiver Schattengang
Paysage d'Hiver Im Wald
The best Paysage d'Hiver after Schattengang. This is a lengthy, a bleak and icy atmospheric riff blizzard accompanied by the typical dark ambient elements we all know and like. 'Im Wald' requires some patience, but still a very enjoyable musical experience. The aesthetics and the atmosphere are both satisfying, BUT: there are not enough lo-fi wind noises!
Pentagram Be Forewarned
That's how one does make an outstanding doom album! Many bands could learn from this release. Simply awesome.
Pest [FI] Hail the Black Metal Wolves of Belial
Judas Priest goes to black metal??? Seriously overlooked and forgotten.
Peste Noire La Sanie des Siècles
*insert meme* This is something! 'Phalnes Et Pestilence - Salvatrice Averse' is a masterpiece, otherwise this is a very-very good album. Probably the best French black metal album I've heard.
Peste Noire Ballade cuntre lo Anemi francor
This is simply crazy good.
Pig Destroyer Terrifyer
Oh yeah, this is heavy. Those riffs...! I especially liked the second half of the album, those songs are really punchy.
Profanum Vulgaris 2009​-​2012
Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine XX
Red Fang Murder the Mountains
Sadistik Exekution The Magus
Fantastic. Hellish riffs covered in a thick evil atmosphere, coming from the deepest abyss. The
terrific vocals and the bass are in the spotlight, and the production is raw and tasty. Sadly, the
whole album is not even 36 minutes long... (recorded in '88!!)
Samael Blood Ritual
Satanic Warmaster Fimbulwinter
Much clearer production, killer riffs, some acoustic instruments, beautiful synths - the not raw Warmaster also rules.
Satanic Warmaster Black Metal Kommando
Satanic Warmaster We Are The Worms That Crawl...
Collection of (almost) all the split appearances: an epitome of raw black metal. The cover greatly illustrates the album's overall sound. Every song is killer.
Sear Bliss Letters From The Edge
Selvhat Den Svarte Tid
Shining (SWE) V - Halmstad
Skeleton Skeleton
Alright, I had no choice, but to 4.5 this bad boy. I loved everything about this album: the mixture of first wave black / punk / thrash sounds amazing, filled with raw energy! The production is nice and crispy, the mix is really well balanced (the drums sound is really sweet). Slayzzzzz m/
Slayer Show No Mercy
Slayer South of Heaven
Sleep The Clarity (Single)
Splendorius From the Ashes
Epic, majestic, exciting and very well composed. This album was a great surprise - the best kind.
Stellar Master Elite Hologram Temple
Storm Nordavind
Sunn O))) Oracle
Sunn O))) (初心) GrimmRobes Live 101008
Synth Bard Beyond the Crystal Cave
Taake Stridens hus
Takatoshi Naitoh In The Forest
This album masterfully blends together (old-school) uplifting, dreamy synths and field recordings into a dreamy and beautiful musical journey.
Thangorodrim Gil-Estel
Thangorodrim The Darkening of Valinor
Finally, the lost album by Thangorodrim!! The distinctive aesthetics can be found here, and the album sounds just as wonderful as expected. Interestingly, "The Darkening of Valinor" has the most diverse atmosphere from the whole discography: it is like all the unique winter synth, epic old-school and medieval styles are mixed together - which is extremly exciting. Wonderful album.
The Devil and the Almighty Blues The Devil and the Almighty Blues
The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones Out of Our Heads
The Wonders Of Atomic Mutations Tunguska
Thorns Thorns vs Emperor (split w/ Emperor)
Thorns Stigma Diabolicum
Thorns Grymyrk
What an overlooked demo...I can understand why was it such a huge inspiration for Burzum & Mayhem
as well: one of the most important demos in the genre.
Tsjuder Desert Northern Hell
Ulvegr Arctogaia
Ulver Perdition City
Ulver Metamorphosis
Ulver Silence Teaches You How to Sing EP
Ulver Messe I.X-VI.X
Vindkaldr Enchantments Of Old Lore
Warmoon Lord Burning Banners of the Funereal War
White Death White Death
Fantastic album - and surprisingly this album offers literally nothing revolutionary, this is a completely orthodox release... But this is so catchy, so well-made, so well-produced and those riffs slap SO hard! A most-impressive second wave worshipping modern BM album. Especially the last song is a pure masterpiece, "White Death's Power" is the most perfect melodic BM song ever.
Wormsblood Bounds Beaten
What a demo, a raw black metal greatness! I'm impressed.
Xasthur Suicide in Dark Serenity

4.0 excellent
0 (Null) Entity
Super heavy, post-DSBM with massive atmosphere and with lots of clean vocals - Iceland constantly produces excellent quality metal music lately, and this is no exception.
36 and Zake Stasis Sounds For Long​-​Distance...
Very-very good drone album with a minimalistic approach. As the title indicates, this is a concept album about space travel, and the album fits to the expectations. Ethereal pads, pretty phasing noises - ready for space travel!
Abhor (ITA) I.gne N.atura R.enovatur I.ntegra
Great symphonic black metal release, and I totally fell in love with the synth section... sounds exactly like an old-school videogame, and matches perfectly to the album's atmosphere. The production is pretty dull, having the vocals as the sharpest component. But since the album has great variety within, alltogether I am very pleased with the overall package. I guess I have a new favourite band now.
Abhor (ITA) Vocat Spiritum Morti
Perfect atmosphere + I loved the drone ambient piece at the beginning, and I the Goblin cover songs.
Abyssic Hate Suicidal Emotions
That buzzsaw guitar sound in this is one of a kind... this atmosphere sends shivers down my spine~
Adrasteia Hymnes de Glaciers
Outstanding, highly atmospheric (raw) black metal / drone fusion demo, which elegantly mixes the two genre's best sides: ethereal and icy drones meet distant, sinister black metal tremolos and fearful shrieks. I loved the tiny experimentations with field recordings and (wintry) synths - I wish this would contain more of them. But I'm greatly impressed!
Adventum Diaboli/Donarhall Cemetery Of Hopes (Split)
Aeberassath Sphaera Aquae
Aerekaer Avindskjold
Afsky Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død
Black metal with emotions.
Ager Sonus Mithra
Ahab Call of the Wretched Sea
Akercocke Antichrist
Akhlys Melinoë
Alcest Spiritual Instinct
Alestorm No Grave But the Sea
Alice Cooper Billion Dollar Babies
Amystery Grim Satanic Blessing
Ancient Boreal Forest Where Dragons Dream
Magical and mysterious melodies with BM aesthetics - just how I love it. Also, nice Summoning and Thangorodrim vibes! *garas's seal of approval*
Ancient Boreal Forest/The Cold Domain In The Land Of High Fantasy
Ancient Sword Ars Antiqua
Very-very good dungeon synth album. The combination of spacey drone and adventurous synth soundscapes works great; and especially the usage of some rless typical (sometimes odd) synth sounds makes this an outstandingly enjoyable album.
Antestor Omen
Anti The Insignificance of Life
A fantastic DSBM album - more on the traditional second wave side. The album delivers tons of fast, tight tremolo riffing accompanied by a superb guitar tone, somewhat standard styled vocals, and exceptionally good production (but with programmed drums?). The album has a very uniquely agressive atmosphere - and I loved it! The bonus track "Death into Life" is a crushing masterpiece.
Antlers (DE) Beneath.Below.Behold
Anubi Kai pilnaties akis uzmerks Mirtis
This is a very unorthodox release, maybe this is something which could be tagged as avant-garde? Not sure. Anubi's one and only LP is a really exciting listen, since this combines many different styles and genres, which makes this an extraordinary and original album. Very atmospheric, and surprisingly, a pretty much bass driven release, which is one of the least usual things in BM in general. I especially loved the folk elements (traditional Lithuanian, I guess?) and the very unusual synth sounds. This sounds like a wild dream, tbh.
Aornos The Great Scorn
Very strong atmoblack release - I might 4.5 it later. The production quality is spot on, nice and heavy riffing (the solos here and there are also very nice), the bass sounds HUGE which is fantastic, and the synths... ahhhh SO good! Hard to find a pinnacle, since the whole album is consistently massive and enjoyable. I shall grab it on tape as well.
Arcturus Aspera Hiems Symfonia
It is pretty, and I loved the atmosphere - however not every song was that really memorable for me. But still I really-really liked this one.
Asattarn An Old Beginning
Ashes (POL) Ashes
Azaghal Omega
Azelisassath In Total Contempt of All Life
Azelisassath Evil Manifestations Against Mankind
B. Ashra Music For Growing
Another very pretty album. The constant, deep sine bass and the pulsating, ethereal pads together builds a calm and uplifting atmosphere... very hypnotic! And using wind bells as a percussion instrument is simply brilliant.
Balance Interruption Door 218
Ball Ball
This some real sweet '70s psychedelic rock / heavy metal worship right there! Catchy riffs, hot solos... this is out and out rock'n'roll!
Ball Like You Are…I Once Was…Like I Am – You Will...
This is what you get if you cross acid rock from the '60s, with some Black Sabbath and a little touch of blues rock. One of the most fun albums of 2020, an amazing fuzzy psychedelic rock journey.
Barbarian King Barbarian King
A terrible cover art hides great excellence: Barbarian King's debut is a very-well written and produced fantasy-inspired musical journey. Various instruments, and percussions and exciting melodies - this is all about.
Barbaric Frost Against the darkness
Baroness Red Album
Basic Dungeon Perils in the slums scenario 1: the orcs commune
Bathory Under the Sign of the Black Mark
Bathory Nordland II
Batushka HOSPODI
Well, this is very different from the original Batushka, and I have to say: I enjoyed this one probably lot more than the others. I don't care about the story behind the split-up because I rcan't be 100% objective in this case. But again, this is a very-very good album. Hospodi is more on the post-metal side, very heavy, the mix is spot on, and I really enjoyed the the overall ratmosphere of this album.
Beherit Drawing Down the Moon
Beketh Nexehmu De Svarta Riterna
Belong October Language
Beltaine Rockhill
This is what I could call simply as: lovely. Very nice and jolly folk album. Am I the only one who gets happy late-summer vibes from this? Beautiful instruments, beautiful production.
Belzebubs Pantheon of the Nightside Gods
Beorn's Hall Estuary
Black Curse Endless Wound
This album ended pretty fast... *hits replay* Seriously, this is some nicely filthy death metal, which really deserves the attention. Well balanced, and most importantly: ~heavyyyyyyyy~
Black Label Society Grimmest Hits
Black Magick SS Kaleidoscope Dreams
Black Magick SS Rainbow Nights
The fuck did I just listen to...? And why did I like it this much? (Thanks youtube algorithm anyway.) Black metal and occlutism in psychedelic rock disguise?! This is sick, but actually the album sounds pretty great. Ah damn, those guitars and synths are tasty!
Black Sabbath Master of Reality
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Bleach Birth Caesarean Tapestries
Blink-182 Dogs Eating Dogs
Blood Tower Clock Dreams
Excellent dungeon synth release. Clock Dreams delivered exactly what I hoped for: dense and mysterious atmosphere, interesting instrumentation & effects, and notable variety in ideas and styles presented. I loved it.
Bonobo Black Sands
Borg The Triumph of Spring
Spring inspired folk music. Very rich in sounds, 100% medieval / renaissance music. You don't hear something like this very often.
Borg Woodland
Another honest and beautiful medieval (neo-)folk album, by the Swede bard. I think there is some improvement from the debut, but it is hard to describe why. I just simply enjoyed this one more. The various instruments, various moods and melodies are astonishing and enchanting, but one thing is sure: it is lovely! So simple, so touching... this makes my heart melt.
Borg The Sacred Mound
Probably the best Borg album. Very well composed and more complex, with the typical lovely and magical aura.
Borgne Y
This is super massive. Heavy riffing atmoblack with nicely placed industrial elements... I'm sold.
Burzum Burzum/Aske
Burzum Hlidskjalf
Burzum Umskiptar
Burzum Reh/Demo 91 (Demo II)
Cain [RUS] Child of Cold
Cal Tjader Fried Bananas
Cal Tjader Stretchin' Out
Basically a best-of Cal Tjader album. A super chill and relaxing latin jazz compilation by the greatest. (The typo on the album cover is pretty annoying.)
Caladan Brood Echoes Of Battle
Camarde Camarde
Very nice lo-fi dungein synth release. Respetful to the old-school: melancholic and enchanting melodies recorded straight to tape (I assume) - and that's it.
Candlemass Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
Cannabis Corpse Nug So Vile
This is so much fun, way better than what I expected!
Carach Angren Dance and Laugh Amongst the Rotten
Carbon Based Lifeforms Twentythree
Carpathian Forest Strange Old Brew
Criminally underrated! This album really represents why does Carpathian Forest deserve a place among the very best black metal acts ever. Personally, I really enjoy their daring attitude for not giving a fuck about the genre's standards - next to the
fantastic Celtic Frost-ish black metal songs, they added several exciting tracks: "Thanatology" (slowtempo atmospheric BM masterpiece), "House Of The Whipchord" (JAZZ and horror music mixture with BM vocals - yes, you read it right!) or "Theme from
Nekromantikk" (something I would consider dungeon synth). All in all, this is an outstanding and exciting record.
Carpathian Forest Fuck You All!!!!
Carpathian Forest Bloodlust And Perversion
Cattle Decapitation Death Atlas
Celestial Bloodshed Cursed, Scarred and Forever Possessed
Exciting and original: this is a typical Norwegian (somewhat standard) BM album with an interesting production. The theatrical and passionate vocals are the most original element in the package, which clearly stood out and I loved it. The additional chain sounds (for real) were pretty bizarre first, but it brought a very interesting element in to the album's overall sound. Not a revolutionary release, but the result is fairly memorable, a very enjoyable black metal record.
Celtic Frost Morbid Tales
Chaucerian Myth Chaucerian Legends: The Epic of Beileag, Part III
Chaucerian Myth Sir Orfeo
Level up. Chaucerian Myth just gets better and better with each release. This album is astonishing, and I think this is a huge improvement. Very classical music inspired style, accompanied by old-school synths - an enchanting combination.
Church of the Cosmic Skull Is Satan Real?
Church of the Cosmic Skull Science Fiction
Converge Axe to Fall
This is not really my territory, but it was pretty cool. A bit long, skipped a few tracks, but especially the second half is great.
Corrupted Temple of Moss Demo I
Corrupted Temple of Moss ​Ancient Magicks Uttered by the Winds...
Cosmic Ground Cosmic Ground 5
Cowl Strange Divinity
Beautiful, simply beautiful. A very atmospheric old-schoolish dungeon synth release, with gorgeous folk and strong drone elements. "Strange Divinity" is a captivating and exciting release, which flows like a slow, melancholic and sometimes nightmarish dream.
Craft Total Soul Rape
Craft White Noise and Black Metal
Crafted from hatred - tight riffing, fantastic production, evillllllll atmosphere. Small disappointment they didn't include a harsh noise wall track representing the white noise part, hahaha!
Criptadel Extended I
I'm greatly impressed about this EP. Very original sound, even though the sound of some instruments are a bit similar to other projects. Ah. I'm so into this atmosphere! A portal for the ears to transfer the listener to an underground fantasy world - at least, this is how I felt. Very strong focus on the ryhthm section, which gives a certain dynamism to the release. Similar to Mortiis, but lot more energic and "moving" - it's quite hard to describe. Alltogether, I loved this release because it really fired up my imagination.
Criptadel The Inverted Tower
Excellent, excellent, excellent. Exciting underground fantasy based dungeon synth with strong percussions and with a very original style.
Curse Upon a Prayer Rotten Tongues
Now, this is an outstanding modern black metal release! This is heavy, theatrical and exciting. I'd say this is pretty similar to Shining's style, but with that "Finnish touch" on the melodies etc.
Curse Upon a Prayer Infidel
Simply awesome black metal release. There is some real intense vocal work, and my beloved Finnish melodic riffing too. Especially the second half of the album is outstandingly good, I loved the combination of thuggish, straight-forward black metal with dark acoustics, and the more experimental tracks as well. (And damn, this concept... this band has balls.)
Daoine Sidhe Daoine Sidhe
Darkeater Иней чёрного рассвета
Darkeater Что помнит лес
Darkspace Dark Space II
Darkspace Dark Space III I
Heavy stuff. (Those Dodheimsgard-ish electronic beats were super cool addition to their sound.)
Darkthrone A Blaze in the Northern Sky
Darkthrone The Cult Is Alive
Darkthrone Plaguewielder
Darkthrone Hate Them
Darkthrone Frostland Tapes
The full catalog of the early Darkthrone demos and live recordings: it is very interesting to hear the band's progression in time, how they experimented with styles and forged their own sound. Everyone should hear them once.
Darkthrone A New Dimension
Darkthrone Arctic Thunder
Data Garden Quartet: Live at The Philadelphia Museum of Art
Exciting "plant-generated" experimental drone piece. Very elegant implementing, the album sounds gorgeous. 116 minutes of vibrating and ever-forming drone music, and I have to admit, that Schefflera plant on the bass synth did a fantastic job, haha! The only problem is that the two main tracks are a bit overlong and the composition gets a little bit samey after a while, maybe a few shorter tracks with different compositions could have been much better, but after all I can't really complain: this is art.
Deafheaven/Bosse-de-Nage Split
Death The Sound of Perseverance
Death Infernal Death (Demo)
Deorc Weg The Chateau of Unrest
I really liked this one, probably the very best by the artist behind Deorc Weg. It has a very modern sound, and perfectly demonstrates the latest trends within the dungeon synth genre lately - and moreover, it executes it with a very elegant way.
Departe Failure, Subside
Depressive Silence Depressive Silence
Depressive Silence Medieval Demons MMXIX
Excellent live album. It was very odd to hear those familiar melodies in a modern context, but it was the same excellent quality like in the old days. Respect.
Desolate Moon Phases As the Dark Empire Burns Around Them
Even though how minimal it is, this album has a very dense and sinister atmosphere: like walking in an evil sanctum or a dungeon. Very cinematic.
Despondent Moon A Spectral Descent
Dethklok Dethalbum II
Devil Master Satan Spits On Children Of Light
DIM (CA) Compendium I
Like a second Fief! Mellow medieval melodies, which can take you to an another world. Simply excellent.
DIM (CA) Compendium II
Dimmu Borgir Inn I Evighetens Mørke
Diplodocus Slow And Heavy
Dino synth... my inner kid is super happy right now, haha! Jokes aside, this is pretty good:
very atmospheric with a certain "ancient" vibe. Nice demo.
Diplodocus Slow And Heavy (B-side)
Discordance Axis The Inalienable Dreamless
Pure rage.
Dissvarth Between The Light And The Moon
This sounds like atmoblack but without the metal - but just because that's what I expected this to be. Very sweet cosmic ambient album, I loved it right after the first seconds... *garas's seal of approval*. Pretty interesting, since I can't really remember if I've heard something like this before...
The album is basically a combination of cheesy and ethereal synths, with some extra vocals and acoustic guitars here and there. And this combination works pretty well! (However, personally I would pair this type of sound instantly with some black metal, which would result probably a second Evilfeast project...)
Drachenfeuer Realm Of Light
Drastus La Croix de Sang
Dream Division The Devil Rides Out
Halloween hit us early this year... An exciting release with great variety within. Spooky atmospheres, great synths and textures and excellent production - perfect.
Dungeontroll Labyrinth of the Golden Princess
Enchanting, beautiful and relaxing. The clipping in the mix is a bit annoying, but still: I love it.
Dust Drinker Sky Burial
Very cool drone/noise release, with interesting textures and samples. Also, this release has a noteworthy production, with its clean sound. Meditative, dark and exciting.
Eagle Twin The Feather Tipped the Serpent's Scale
Eagle Twin The Thundering Heard (Songs of Hoof and Horn)
Earth Earth 2: Special Low Frequency Version
Elder (USA-MA) Omens
This could have been a strong 4.5 as an instrumental album. I can see myself jamming this frequently.
Elderflower Elderflower
Eldur Síggja
Elffor Dra Sad
Elffor Unholy Throne Of Doom
Tradition. Elffor never disappoints.
Emperor Wrath of the Tyrant
Emyn Muil Elenion Ancalima
The better Emyn Muil record. The album flows really well, and even though the guitars are covered by reverb a bit too much, the overall atmosphere is great. A pleasant Tolkien-atmoblack album.
Emyn Muil Afar Angathfark
In the steps of Summoning, Emyn Muil delivered another enchanting album which sucessfully creates an epic, adventurous and in the other times mellow and pleasing atmosphere. The female vocals sounded especially good, along with the nice and clean production. Excellent album!
Encloaked Encloaked
Epileptoids Epileptoids
A full instrumental psychedelic surf rock EP? Yes please. A little bit spooky and that vibrato effect on the guitars gives an interesting "shaking" feeling to the overall sound. Also, the production is just simply perfect, very nice and light and every instrument sounds livid and sharp.
Esoctrilihum Pandaemorthium
Esoctrilihum The Telluric Ashes of the Ö Vrth Immemorial Gods
Esoctrilihum Eternity Of Shaog
Best Esoctrilihum so far, not far from a 4.5. Weirder and more adventurous than ever, I love it. (Bonus points for the synths!)
Ethereal Shroud They Became the Falling Ash
However I've missed the "original", I loved the new remastered version from the very beginning. Fantastic sound, perfect amount of reverb and I loved the "Summoning-vocals" as well. Great album.
Evilfeast Lost Horizons of Wisdom
Evilfeast Mysteries of the Nocturnal Forest
Evilfeast / Marblebog Isenheimen / Abyss Calls...
This is good split. The Polish-Hungarian cooperation was rather strong, both artist did an excellent work. I liked the coid and mysterious atmosphere, and the ratio of the dark ambient and black metal sections were just spot on.
Evilfeast / Uuntar Odes to lands of past traditions
Falaise A Place I Don't Belong To
Fall Of Man Between God & The Devil
Fattyu Hagyaték
Fattyu Az Alföld sötét szíve
One of the most interesting albums of the year, a pretty doomish folklore-inspired black metal piece. I highly appreciate the variety within, and I really enjoyed the lyrical concepts and the production - the bass is super tasty! Currently one of the best Hungarian black metal projects.
Faustian Pact Outojen Tornien Varjoissa
Very interesting album, the rather unorthodox sounds/instruments made it a very exciting experience. You can hear female choruses, flutes, odd synths and many other rarely used sounds mixed into some classic second wave black metal. Sometimes it even sounds pretty... happy(?). Very unique stuff!
Fen Walker Sojourns in the Realm of the Undermoon
One of the most exciting releases of the year. Fen Walker masterfully mixes verious genres and influences together, creating a really unique fantasy-inspired Berlin-school electronic / dungeon synth / dark ambient piece.
Fen Walker The Totem Wilds Call Thy Name
Feral Spectre Crepuscular Evil
Great old-school sounding raw black demo: primitve, harsh and evil. These guys surely love the early Darkthrone albums!
Fief I
Fief II
Firienholt Beside the Roaring Sea
Very nice atmoblack/dungeon synth blend in a short EP, but a very high quality output. Nice Summoning and Caladan Brood vibes.
Foetus Flow
Forest Silence The Eternal Winter
Forgjord Ilmestykset
Fostartaly Return of the Jani
Frederic Chopin Nocturnes, Op. 9
Frost (HU) Voices From Beyond The Gates
Further Down The Zone Tapes
Gatecreeper Sonoran Depravation
Gatecreeper Deserted
Alright, this slaps. This band never disappoints. m/
Genesis Selling England by the Pound
Very-very pretty album.
Ghost (SWE) Popestar
Ghost and Tape Vár
Calming drone/ambient with a minimalistic, yet effective approach. Meditative and ethereal. I needed this.
gift of gods receive
Gjallarhorn Sjofn
Gjallarhorn Ranarop – Call of the Sea Witch
Glorior Belli The Apostates
Goatsnake Flower of Disease
Goatsnake Black Age Blues
Gordon Bok A Tune for November
Simple and humble - matches perfectly to my moody spirit. I need this on vinyl.
Gorgoroth Promo '94
Grausamkeit Angeldestruction
This riffs! Super awesome lo-fi black metal demo with a dark and dense atmosphere. Primitive riffs, crispy production... yeah, totally garascore.
Grausamkeit Nostalgia - Okkultes Blut
Fantastic blend of old-school black metal and dungeon synth music. It has a quite raw production, and it is very synth dominant - technically these two aspects made me fall in love with this release. There were a few less great songs on the album, but whenever the synths step into the spotlight: it's magical.
Graven The Shadows Eternal Call
Grol the Goblin King of all Goblins
Some very exciting stuff, but just only for those who are into the musical style of old-school video games, or are dungeon crawlers like me.
Grouper Ruins
Hallas Hällas
Beautiful proto-heavy metal (is this a thing?). Super retro, super fun.
Halm The Emerald Disk of Eternity
Diverse and has so much in it! I mean, it reminded me to lot of things, like videogame and movie soundtracks, other dungeon synth albums... so all in all, the overall atmosphere felt very mixed, but mixed from the best components, I'd say: a bit from everything, yet the combination is something new, fresh and adventurous.
Harbinger (US) The Consecrated Barrow
Harbinger (US) The Convocation of Forgotten Gods
Haunted Realm Kingdom of Ages Past
I found this one surprisingly enchanting. It has a calm and melancholic, yet still cold and mysterious atmosphere, which I found very enjoyable. Very modern sounding samples and instruments, but this type of sound is what I also greatly enjoy. "The Knight and the Maiden" was a very pleasant highlight for me even though it kinda reminded me to the music you can hear in saunas or spas, hahaha!
Havukruunu Kelle Surut Soi
How the fuck did I sleep on this so far?! These guys are outstanding, even from the extremly tight Finnish BM scene.
HellHammer Satanic Rites
You can't go wrong with Swiss black metal, especially with first wave stuff. Simple yet effective.
Hellripper Black Arts and Alchemy
Sick. Second half of the EP is exceptionally good.
Hermodr Vinter
Hessian Crucible Morbidity Demo
This is still a tasty death metal demo, with some awesome riffs. It was more than great hearing this again after a few years...
Hexenwood Bloodspring
Hiemal Winterscape
High on Fire Death Is This Communion
High on Fire Snakes For The Divine
High on Fire De Vermis Mysteriis
High on Fire Electric Messiah
Hillsfar Jewel of the Moonsea
I greatly enjoyed this one. Despite the obvious and humble worship of the old-school DS, it also brings something new and unique without sounding generic and lifeless - and I greatly respect that. A bit more on the slower side of the genre, with serious atmosphere. Adventurious!
Hjelvik Welcome To Hel
I'm loving this. I didn't expect much from this album, but I just love how jammy it is. And damn, Erlend is a tricky guy! Inserting the "Necromansy" riff by Bathory (or in "War" by Burzum, you decide) in 'Kveldulv' really got me. Another excellent album which hides behind a very cheesy artwork, but the riffs and the solos speak for themselves. A super positive surprise, and I think it really has a good replay value as well.
Horde Hellig Usvart
Horna Kohti Yhdeksän Nousua
The perfect epitome how a second wave black metal album should sound.
Horna Sudentaival
(My rating is based on the 2017 remastered version) Super good riff fest, and especially the second half rules! It's not far from a 4.5 too. I love the artwork as well.
Horna Sotahuuto
Another riff-fest. This album was very close to the early Darkthrone sound, and personally I really loved it!
Horna Hengen tulet
Massive album, even though this is "just" straight-forward Finnish black metal. But this band just really feels it how to write good albums. 'Nekromantia' and 'Puhdas' are superb jams.
Horna Kuolleiden Kuu
Horna rules, and it was especially true with this EP, showing how strong they are if they aim for writing more mid-tempo material. I loved this. > "Captures of the essence of pure black metal without feeling like a rehash." [2]
Hostlov When Night Falls
Hovert Sol
A beautiful post-metal/DSBM mixture. The additional cello and clean vocals adds a lot to the overall atmosphere. I was surprised how good it was.
Hypothermia Självdestruktivitet född av monotona tankegångarIV
Immortal All Shall Fall
Immortal Northern Chaos Gods
Slightly disappointed: half of the tracks are really great, and the others are just average. Not better than Abbath.
Impaled Nazarene Suomi Finland Perkele
Impaled Nazarene Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz
One of the most interesting BM albums I've ever heard (even though a few songs are straight up old-school death metal). This is wild - more precisely: very wild. The most outstanding component are the vocals, which is simply madly...evil. Productionwise speaking, the album is very exotic: the typical first and second wave black metal aesthetics can be heard in the very same time, and oddly enough, there are obvious similiarities to the early Slayer, and Sadistik Exekution albums.
Despite the very short song lengths, the album feels very diverse, probably due to the highly experimental aspects. The album has a great riffs, and an uniquely evil atmosphere, so alltogether: this slayz m/
Impaled Nazarene Taog Eht Fo Htao Eht [Demo]
Now, this is one of the most impressive demos I've ever heard. Just pure old-school blackened death metal. Riffs after riffs, and the production is super sweet. And not to forget to mention the evil atmosphere!
Impending Doom Baptized in Filth
Inoriand A World Frozen
Calm and ethereal - frosty dungeon drone just how I like it! Additionally, I think it is Inoriand's best so far.
Internal Rot Grieving Birth
Alright, this almost broke my neck... a very straight-forward massive riff-flow. Pure fury.
Internazionale Elegy for the Victors
Iron Reagan Worse Than Dead
Excellent album, cool riffs - maybe a little bit short. But the mix! Give the sound engineer a
cookie: every instrument and the vocals sound good!
Iron Reagan Crossover Ministry
Isegrimm / Ornatorpet The Heathen Kingdom
Wonderful and hypnotic split! Flows like a dream, it has exciting synths and percussions, and has a very adventurous feeling. Both artists really shines in this record.
Isengard Vinterskugge
Fenriz is such a great and talented songwriter! I love the great variety: folk/black, dungeon synth, old-school death metal, rock... he is a real deal, and this album is just another proof why he is my favourite.
Jan Grunfeld Music for plants
Very pretty and relaxing, and outstandingly great for a fully improvised album. The light and ethereal ambiance is a great base and the fusion with the slightly alt rock-ish and experimental elements makes this release especially enjoyable. Maybe it is just me, but I think the last few songs are somewhat similar to the modern Ulver's sound, especially to the live jamming in ATGCLVLSSCAP, for example. This *should* exist in physical formats too!
Jim Hall and Pat Metheny Jim Hall & Pat Metheny
Jim Kirkwood Master of Dragons
Jim Kirkwood Tower of Darkness
Jim Kirkwood Where Shadows Lie
Jon Hopkins Immunity
Joseph Haydn Symphony No. 93 in D Major
Judas Iscariot The Cold Earth Slept Below
Riffs cold as ice...
Judas Iscariot Dethroned, Conquered and Forgotten
Kaouenn On the Day of his Death​.​.​.
Kaouenn Secrets of the Stone Circle
Kataxu Hunger of Elements
Keys of Orthanc Dush agh Golnauk
Keys of Orthanc A Battle in the Dark Lands of the Eye​.​.​.
Khand The Sage of Witherthorn
Wonderful. A very-well composed and adventurous album. Very original sound and samples with an excellent production. Each song is very dynamic, which makes the album constantly "fluid" and dreamy.
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Infest the Rats' Nest
Kobold (IT) The village in the frozen mountains
A very pleasant and magical release. I love concept albums (and most of HDK releases are story-driven), because it gives a certain extra excitement to the listening - same case with this Kobold album, I really enjoyed this the adventure in the icy mountains of the Huk Valley.
Krampusnacht Superstar
Great album. But: not just Christmas songs - the self-titled was slightly better.
Ksiezyc Ksiezyc
This could make a great soundtrack for a folk horror movie. Chilling, obscure and very original.
Kvelertak Kvelertak
Lamentation Eine Symphonie Der Nacht
Lamentation Grabens Symphonie
Despite the plague, 2020 brought us some sweet compilation albums. Releasing the entire Lamentation discography on vinyl was a massively kind gesture from Werewolf Records.
Lamp of Murmuur Melancholy Howls in Ceremonial Penitence
You can find the full album here: http://mortuusinsomnis06.blogspot.com/2019/07/lamp-of-murmuur-melancholy-howls-in.html
Lamp of Murmuur The Burning Spears Of Crimson Agony
One of the best BM releases I've heard this year. Great riffs, sweet production and a crispy overall sound.
LEM Twelve Who Stole The Rain
Really great blackened death album, with some doomish vibes here and there. I love the variety within: tempo changes, cool interludes and acoustic sections, great vocals and heavy riffs (with a tasty guitar tone)... hats off, I loved it. It might me a grower too.
Les Abysses Reveal the deep
Licht des Urteils Demo 2019
Limbonic Art Ad Noctum - Dynasty Of Death
Linkin Park Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park Meteora
Lord Wolf Darklands Of Hate
Lorgren Benirus Tome of Unlife
Lumiere Jaskółczy Niepokój
Calm and mellow, droney, and the field recordings are perfectly placed and aren't over-used.
Lycanthropus Lycanthropus
Magic Moss Volume 1
I demand more!! A super fun, uh... acid punk/psychedelic rock EP! I like the punkish vocals choruses, the organ is crazy fun, and alltogether: this is catchy AF!
Magnum Lost on the Road to Eternity
Majestic Mass Savage Empire of Death
Nasty and filthy, the bastard child of psychedelic punk and black metal. This was insanely catchy, dirty production with sweet and sinister organs for the right atmosphere... what can I say? I'm sold!
Malfet The Snaking Path
Another fine piece of dungeon synth which should have been known for many.
Malfet The Way to Avalon
Very strong release, even though I expected something more "wizardy" based on the cover and
the song titles. This album is very enchanting, and has a very folky side (sometimes like
early Fief), and I liked it a lot. But: too many field recordings to my taste since it's not
building mostly on atmosphere (this is much more melodic), and alltogether: I felt it was too
short. Still, one of the greatest DS releases this year.
Malfet Alban Arthan
Not far from a 4.5 by the Grumpy standards. The most well-layered Malfet record so far with top quality production. I have no idea what's the secret behind that choir sound, but it is one of the greatests I've ever heard within the DS genre. The spoken lines didn't add anything to the listening experience for me, and maybe the rainy/watery samples were almost too much, but I'm only complaining because I'm Grumpy. I loved the atmosphere, the medieval instruments etc. - I'm more than satisfied.
Maria Warner Amanita Musicaria
Mastodon Blood Mountain
Mastodon Crack the Skye
Mastodon Emperor of Sand
Mastodon Medium Rarities
It was a fun album, especially the mastering was great. Great variety within, and all the live songs sounded just as good as the studio recordings. Fun fact: they managed to play 'Orion' better than Metallica(!). And believe, everyone has to hear the full instrumental version of 'Asleep in the Deep'. Perhaps a bit unnecessary release, but definitely worths the time for a few listens.
Mayhem De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
Mayhem Chimera
Mayhem Dawn of the Black Hearts
Mayhem Life Eternal
Mayhem European Legions
Mayhem Daemon
Medieval Rites Prologue
Fief fans, assemble! This fills me with great joy. Beautiful and relaxing medieval ambient release.
Medieval Steel The Dungeon Tapes
Okay, this is catchy as hell. At first I wasn't a big fan of the vocals, but in the end I more or less liked it. If power metal would sound mostly like this, then maybe I'd dig it more often.
Megadeth Youthanasia
Megadeth Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
Men I Trust Oncle Jazz
Merciless The Awakening
Tasty Swede death-thrash assault. Tight and fierce riffs, quite great production accompanied by the sweet old-school aesthetics which brings a certain flavour into the whole thing... I love it. Is it just me, or is it kinda similar to Morbid's "December Moon"?
Mercyful Fate Don't Break the Oath
Meshuggah obZen
Metallica Garage Inc.
One of the few Metallica albums which actually matters. Great jamz.
Metallica Jump in the Fire
Methadone Skies Different Layers of Fear
Mightiest & Depressive Silence Recreation of the Shadowlands
Miracle (UK) The Strife of Love in a Dream
Mirkwood (AUT) Demo
Mondfinsternis Lokabrenna
Wow. Some otherworldy high production right here! Cinematically atmospheric, easily outshines many movie's soundtracks. Fantastic quality... the vareity of styles blended together, the production and composition...very well done, I'm impressed. *garas's seal of approval*
Moonless Nights In Old Chambers Of Castle Wewelsburg (Album)
Morbid December Moon
Morbid Saint Spectrum of Death
Pretty much what GamamJ said. Only the vocals are kinda not exactly my taste, but... the riffs man, the riffs!!!
Morbid Vomit Doctrine of Violence
Massive, groovy Finnish death metal - this album does not disappoint!
Morketsvind Forest Ride
Mournful Moon .​.​.​As Shadows Fall Over Zenitheaen
It is one of those albums I fell in love with within a few seconds. Despite being a Lamentation "copycat", this is a very sophisticated album with a charming atmosphere, which respectfully invocates the old-school era of dungeon synth. Beautiful reverby piano sections, melancholic and magical songs, and some black metal vocals here and there... everything is spot on!
Municipal Waste Hazardous Mutation
Municipal Waste The Last Rager
Murgrind Inheritor of the Forest Throne
Mutiilation Black Millenium (Grimly Reborn)
Very straight-forward and super solid raw black metal album. Nothing is overdone, it is just an excellent traditional release: great riffs, and sweet lo-fi(/low-budget) production - exactly in the same vein with the early Norwegian scene's output.
Mysticum Piss Off
Napalm Death Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism
A consistently good neck-workout. I loved the variety within, and the album just flew by: bangers after bangers, and even the "rest" songs like 'Amoral' were great. Moreover, the more experimental tracks like the industrial 'A Bellyful of Salt and Spleen' were simply awesome. I really liked the mixing and mastering as well, fits perfectly to the album's punchiness.
Nargaroth Herbstleyd
Excellent atmospheric black metal. Also, probably the strongest Nargaroth album ever.
Nargaroth Rasluka Part I
Nargaroth Era of Threnody
Nargaroth Amarok
I had no expectations about this comp., and it really surprised me how great it is: a simple old-school black metal release + I loved the more experimental "style" of the band's early phase. Unique sound.
Necrodeath Fragments of Insanity
Massive riff-storm by the Italian black/thrashers. The production is very good, the album contains tons of heavy riffs. Slaps m/
Neptune Towers Caravans To Empire Algol
Neverlur / Sequestered Keep Under Nordljosets Straalar / Quests in the North
It was a great introduction to Neverlur's music for me, and I wasn't disappointed. Sequestered Keep was just perfect as always. Such a great, magical split.
Nicatas Drumer Impure Grandeur
Very-very good melodic (thrashy) black metal, thanks for the rec, park! I love when traditional black metal albums which are just simply good. Nothing is overdone, just what I needed: great riffs and the classic BM aesthetics.
Nico Georis Shirley Shirley Shirley!
Now this is a really outstanding experimental album: an album created from a plant's electrical biosignals converted into MIDI! This is an uplifting and mind-blowing experience, and the album has beautiful droney soundscapes and interesting melodies. An ethereal journey on nature's frequencies~
Nightmare Puppy Canal
Nightmare Puppy Nara Nara Voltsong For Shower
Super entertaining album. Thank you for sharing this with us, and hats off Johnny!
Nightwing Black Summer
Nirvana Bleach
Bleach contains probably Nirvana's greatest riffs, filled with desperate rage and darkness. This is heavy, so I love it.
Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York
Nirvana Nevermind
Nocternity Harps Of The Ancient Temples
Novembre Annoluce
Obsequiae The Palms Of Sorrowed Kings
Octobeast / Synthosaurus Mega Clash of Creature Worlds
Holy shite, what a split! This is some really cinematic dino synth split, which sometimes kinda sounds like Fief... and hints of black metal.
Old Sorcery The Path Lies Hidden
Old Sorcery Strange and Eternal
Oldlands Source of Eternal Darkness
Outstanding lo-fi black metal demo from Brazil. The classic traditional lo-fi BM aesthetics are super sweet, and in my opinion, alltogether it sounds very similar to the early Norwegian releases, especially to the Euronymous-era Mayhem (it has SOLOS!). This slaps m/
On Graves All Must Go
Ontrothon, Saga of the Ancient Glass Ontrothon, Saga of the Ancient Glass
The artist behind Spectral Lore really proved his talent with this release: enchanting, calm yet exciting piece of medieval ambient mixed with dungeon synth. Maybe this could worth a better rating as well, but hearing the same VSTs again and again with so many artists is getting a bit boring... at least, the fusion of different elements in this release could create a different atmosphere. Also, this would be a great soundtrack to a DnD game too - which is always means some bonus points for me.
Opeth Orchid
Describing 'Orchid' with one word, I'd go with: elegant. I loved the old-schoolish (yet clear) sound, the slower sections, and the sweet guitar tone. I think it is a bit lengthy, but otherwise very pleasant album. Perhaps a grower?
Ossa Coronata A Candle
Dark, melancholic, spooky and dreamy. I love the atmosphere the album creates.
Ossa Coronata One With Weariness
Ozzy Osbourne No More Tears
Ozzy Osbourne Ozzmosis
Paysage d'Hiver Steineiche
Paysage d'Hiver Die Festung
Paysage d'Hiver Winterkälte
Pentagram Day of Reckoning
Consistently massive old-school doom album. Pentagram rules m/ (A better production could have been nice though.)
Pentagram Pentagram
'Pentagram' / 'Relentless', you name it, is an excellent old-school doom record. Personally I was surprised how Sabbathy it was (I didn't know this band earlier). Tasty riffs!
Perihelion (HU) Örvény
Perihelion (HU) Agg
'Agg' is their most cinematic work so far, and I'm glad they kept their artistic "bipolar" shoegazey style. I especially loved the lyrics, the droney sounds (not sure if synths or tons of effect pedals), and how good the bass sounds in the whole album. Maybe they could have gone a bit more heavier, and damn, Gyula's vocals were way too quiet in the mix! Also, the title track is amazing, probably the best I've heard from them. Excellent album, I'm a proud Hungarian!
Peste Noire Folkfuck Folie
French "sewer" black metal. Nice.
Pig Destroyer Phantom Limb
Yay, this is heavy as well. I don't know why, but I feel that the second half of the album was stronger than the other (- same case with Terrifyer)... Pretty straight-forward album, very well done.
Pig Destroyer Natasha
The creepy sludge/doom Pig Destroyer also slaps. Highly atmospheric piece, and this style worked for them surprisingly well. (The clicking bass drum sound is disgusting, though.)
Pig Destroyer Head Cage
Poison (DE) Into the Abyss
Massive first wave black / thrash album, it has a killer sound. Great ideas, great riffs, and since it's old-school it means an instant +0.5 on my rating. (Thanks Fenriz!)
Power Trip Nightmare Logic
Power Trip Opening Fire: 2008-2014
Okay, this fucking RIPS m/ To be honest, I did not expect such a strong compilation about a bunch of B-sides and rarities, but looks like this band can't produce anything bad. Crossover thrash which melts your face off. Bonus points for the sick artwork.
Power Trip Live in Seattle: 05.28.18
E n o r m o u s sound from a live album!
Prurient Frozen Niagara Falls
An exciting many-faced record, which navigates you through ethers and hell in a noisy dream.
Psychonaut Unfold the God Man
Finally something great under the post-metal tag, not just another trendy hyper-annoying shoegazey boredom. The influences are all crystal clear, and I think they formed them into something, which is their own "flavour". Great jam.
Purl Form Is Emptiness
Beautiful drone/ambient album. This really represents my overall taste within the genre.
Quantic Magnetica
Queen Greatest Hits
Rage Against the Machine The Battle of Los Angeles
Red Fang Red Fang
Red Helen Trading Past For Pathways
Redhorn Gate Demo I-II-III
Nice compilation of 3 raw demos: old-school dungeon synth done right.
Rhandir Vagabond's Call
Rothadas Rothadás
Impressive old-school (doomy) death metal demo from a local band I don't know anything about, haha! The 'a e s t h e t i c s'! Ahhh, exactly how I like my DM. I'm definitely looking for some more in the future.
Rotting Christ The Heretics
runescape斯凱利 runescape​.​wav符文風景骨架
What a pleasant surprise: this an excellenet quality dungeon synth release, despite the silly title and cover. It is highly atmospheric, has great melodies and pretty synth sounds. I feel a sudden urge to get this on tape sometime...
runescape斯凱利 runescape​​.​​wav2戰利品的戰爭
Enchanting harmonies and magical atmosphere. This a really excellent release!
Sadistik Exekution We Are Death... Fukk You !
Sanguine Moon What Shadows Once Hid...
Sarke Gastwerso
This slaps. The simple and heavy riffs, and the really exotic synths and guest vocals make this album very memorable, and I might bump up my rating later because I feel this is a grower.
The album is beautiful: the production is spot on, the songwriting is very intelligent and creative (somewhat proggy?) and the overall package offered lot more than what I expected.
The Darkthrone guys are just simply unstoppable!
Satan Cruel Magic
Satanic Warmaster Nachzehrer
Satanic Warmaster Revelation ...of the Night
Oh yeah, this is a max score on the trveness scale. Very solid album, the remastering did wonders with the songs: the biggest change is the quality of the vocals, which drastically improved. Furthermore, both the drums and guitars sound more sharp and agressive. (Fenriz would love the drum sound - so organiccccc!) The only problem with this album is a specific contrast between some of the songs presented: some of them are overlong and less exciting, while others are fantastic and one of Werwolf's best works. If all the songs could punch equally, then it could be a BM classic.
Still, the last (rare) song, "The Will" is one of the best black metal songs ever written.
(If you wouldn't want to listen to the whole thing, at least listen to only that song!)
Satanic Warmaster/Archgoat Lux Satanae
Saturne I
Satyricon Now, Diabolical
Satyricon My Skin Is Cold
Extremly overlooked, and way better than the average score! Except of the title track, you can find great songs from different albums presenting some of the best songs from the band's discography. And 'Mother North' performed with a backup orchestra is unbeliveably amazing - best version EVER.
Scary Larry Scary Larry
Scorpions Comeblack
Summer vibes. This comp. grew on me a lot and in the end I can say: I really like this band now. Tbh, the remastered version of 'Rock You Like A Hurricane' is just simply perfect.
Seax Speed Metal Mania
Secret Stairways Turning Point
Serpent Column Ornuthi Thalassa
Serpent's Isle The Quiet Lakes
Shining (SWE) Redefining Darkness
Shining (SWE) Fiende
Skarpseian Skygge Slottet
Skarpseian Tan Gil
Slayer Reign in Blood
Slayer World Painted Blood
Sleep Dopesmoker
Sleep The Sciences
Slift Ummon
Finally, I can get behind the hype about something here (duh). This was a very cool psychedelic/stoner/whatever jam. Crispy sound, sweet Sleep influences etc. - well done!
Sodom In the Sign of Evil
Sol Distorsion Sol Distorsion
Solanum (GER) Spectral Poetry (Demo)
Exciting, and majestic album, just what I expected from B. S. (half of Depressive Silence).
Solanum (GER) Spheres of Time
Spirit Adrift Divided by Darkness
Oh hello doom-Mastodon, nice riffs you have there.
Splendorius Tearful Misty Woods
Sterbend Dwelling Lifeless
Stirge Stirge vs. Dungeon Altar
Strid Strid [7'']
Way too short, but awesome EP.
Stygian Ruin Sulfuric Vapour From the Depths
"Exotic" sounds and old-schoolish atmosphere. Stygian Ruin's debut is a very interesting and somewhat charming release, covered by some sort of weird magic which gives a certain spooky feeling to this release.
Sundrugs Low
Sunn O))) Flight of the Behemoth
Huge and earthshaking guitar drones and exciting noise textures: a behemo)))th indeed.
Sunn O))) ØØ Void
Sunn O))) Agharthi 09-10
Sunn O))) Pyroclasts
Sunn O))) Meets Nurse With Wound The Iron Soul of Nothing
Sventovit Longing for the Past
Pretty little album, with a humbly magical atmosphere. Very relaxing!
Synth Bard Gold Box Renditions
Synthosaurus Gigantic Throne
Taking dino synth to the next level, 'Gigantic Throne' is a super fun album.
System of a Down Toxicity
System of a Down Hypnotize
Taake Nattestid Ser Porten Vid
Super groovy, melodic and has a very enjoyable crispy production. Hoest is a trve riff master.
Taake Hordalands Doedskvad
Taake Over Bjoergvin Graater Himmerik
Taake Taake
Taake Noregs Vaapen
Taake Kulde
Taste Taste
Thangorodrim Prologue
All the early Thangorodrim-works have been remastered, and the result is very pleasing, and really have been brought together. This is a more ripe, and fullier complex, which certainly has its own highs and lows, but alltogether this is a fine and valuable musical experience for all the enthusiastic fans of Tolkien's work, and the dungeon synth genre.
The Atomic Bitchwax Scorpio
Some kind of groovy heavy rock / stoner metal, which is extremly entertaining. Each song is catchy, energic and may stuck in the listeners head. I'm sold.
The Avalanches Since I Left You
Bar background music: the album.
The Cold Domain Barbaric Dark Ages
The Flamingo Jones The 5th Floor Of The Tree
Pretty awesome psychedelic rock collection. Most of this is just a huge live jamming, and you can really feel how much these guys love what are they doing.
The Gitas Garland
Grunge is rarely this exciting. I know this band quite a while, but the re-discovery of this album was a rather nice feeling, and I pretty much love all of the presented songs 'ere.
The Haxan Cloak Midsommar (Original Score)
The Moon and Saturn The Moon and Saturn
The Necromancers Servants of the Salem Girl
The Rolling Stones Their Satanic Majesties Request
The Rolling Stones Singles 1965-1967
The Spirit Sounds from the Vortex
That kind of meloblack I really like. Reminded me a bit to Antestor: constantly flowing riffs, even some solos too. Solid output.
The Sword Warp Riders
The True Werwolf Devil Crisis
Werwolf showed again with this release he's still relevant and remained as a standard point, a pillar within the Finnish BM scene. Tbh, I don't know why did he release this under The True Werwolf because this is full BM album~ Slaps nonetheless.
Thorns Trøndertun
Thorr's Hammer Dommedagsnatt
Thousand Foot Krutch The End Is Where We Begin
Thunderbolt / Kataxu Beyond Christianity / North
Thy Catafalque Roka Hasa Radio
Thy Catafalque Meta
Thy Catafalque Geometria
Thy Catafalque Naiv
What an exciting album! The variety within is incredible, and the albums feels really "colorful" - like serious Belus (by Burzum) vibes on the first track and nice Berlin school synths in "V�t�" or "A valóság kazamatái" for example. Great guest vocals and so on, and the lyrical themes are very pretty. I expected something more lot more folk oriented, but the result was something more: lots of styles blended together embodying something never heard before.
And I feel guilty about the fact that I didn't really enjoyed every song, so I have a bit mixed feelings about this, but absolutely dominated by the positive side.
Til Det Bergens Skyggene Til Det Bergens Skyggene
Timothy Fife Transcommunication
Gorgeous blend of Berlin-school electronics and drone music, executed perfectly with a super sweet production. I loved the analog synth sounds, and how dynamic the album is...!
Titan (US) I
Tomusz Escape
Tormentor Seventh Day Of Doom
Treasure Seeker Quest for the Secrets Beyond Time
Very nice, I'm impressed. Great medieval ambient release, very playful and adventurous, with pleasant Fief-ish vibes.
Trist (GER) Willenskraft
Tristengrav II - Nychavgé
Triumph (RUS) Triumph
Trvth Inordinate and Surpassing
Tsjuder Throne of the Goat (2018 Version)
Tsjuder Norwegian Apocalypse
Ulaidh Provincial Kingdoms of Éire
Beautiful debut from Ulaidh, I'm most impressed. Soundwise, this respectfully follows to the old-school traditions, but has a slightly modern edge - and together the album builds an enchanting and mystical atmosphere... Very relaxing.
Ulcerate Shrines of Paralysis
Ulk Ulk
Ulthar Providence
It is a really good blackened death metal album, it has a perfect runtime, nice riffs and production. And bonus point for those Immortal-vibes.
Ulver Kveldssanger
Ulver Themes From William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
Ulver Vargnatt
Ulver Lyckantropen Themes OST
Ulver The Norwegian National Opera
Ulver Childhood's End
Ulver The Assassination of Julius Caesar
Ulver Sic Transit Gloria Mundi
Ulver Drone Activity
So Ulver stepped into the territories of drone ambient music. 'True North' was a rather weak track, but the album builds up itself nicely, and finishes with the brilliant and meditative 'Exodus'. It was a pleasant and interesting experience.
Umbria Follow the ghost hand
Urthrax Cantrips
Uruk-Hai / Burzum The Fighting Uruk-Hai / Wotans Verhängnis
Usnea Portals Into Futility
Vader Thy Messenger
Vale Minstrel Warden Of The Vale
Very-very strong folk ambient debut album, I really liked it. The production is very pleasant, it has nice instrumentation (especially the flutes are the most lovely) and has adventurous but relaxing atmosphere.
Vampyric Desolation Wolf Howl, Blood and Nightfall
Exactly my taste in dungeon drone: mysterious and very atmospheric. I got those Amnesia vibes, perfectly spooky.
Van Halen Van Halen
Vandalorum Flagellum Dei
Vargrav (FIN) Reign In Supreme Darkness
Veligor Shadow of forgotten Realm
Venom Inc. Avé
Vindland Hanter Savet
Vinterdvala Historien om de sju trollgubbarna
True to burzumish traditions. It's like the early Burzum meets the modern ambient albums, with some extra field recordings. Fantastic, what a gem!
Vitamin X About To Crack
Vlakolak Mekrevtrozmbreh
Despite the minimalistic approach, Vlakolak stands as a really effectively scary project within the dungeon synth scene. This type of spookiness is really original, and I was hooked by its dense and cryptic atmosphere instantly.
Voslaarum Spirits of Xavara
Wake Confluence
More of this please - whatever is it! Post-metal with some... uh, grind? Anyway, this EP with the weird Windows logo is great.
Wallachian Cobwebs Hearken to the Moon Whisper
Wampyric Rites Demo II
Wampyric Rites .​.​.​In The Desolate Forest of Eternity
Wampyric Rites Reflections Of A Frostbitten Moon
Warmoon Lord / Vultyrium Pure Cold Impurity
Split of the year everybody. Two very similarly and consistently good projects found each other, and the result simply slaps. The slightly atmospheric, traditional second wave heavy-riffing yet melodic style worked really well for both of them, and the album doesn't leave you anything to complain about.
Wehmut Wehmut
Great DSBM album, which blend a little post-rock into the overall picture.
West End Motel Bad with Names, Good with Faces​.
White Stones Kuarahy
Great jam! I really dig the guitars, the overdrive matches surprisingly well to the album's old-schoolish style. Great riffs (the proggy parts are tasty!), great production.
White Ward Love Exchange Failure
Willie Colon Lo Mato
Wilsumnes Upon the Altar of Sacrificial Blood
Windir Sogneriket
winter woods Mountain Of Unknown Gods
winter woods Bewitched In Black Moonlight
Winterlandschaft L'obscurité
Witch Tomb Witch Tomb
Witch Tomb Incantation
Wobbler Dwellers of the Deep
Wolves in the Throne Room Celestial Lineage
Wolves in the Throne Room Celestite
Wolves in the Throne Room Thrice Woven
Wongraven Fjelltronen
Wraith (USA-IN) Absolute Power
Wretched Lament A Portrait of the Plague Age
The "plague synth" album of 2020. In the steps of Foolish Fire, Wretched Lament presented the perfectly depressed, empty, mysterious and "shockingly real sound" of a pandemia. Personally I loved the classical gregorian chant samples, they gave it a certain liturgical and sacred touch, plus the deep dones made this release somehow liturgical, and doomed.
Xasthur Nocturnal Poisoning
Xasthur A Darkened Winter
Mysterious and haunting. Very impressive for a first demo.
YOB Our Raw Heart
Yoshiko Sai Taiji no Yume
Zake zakè (扎克)
Humble little drone piece, which greatly represents my overall taste in the genre. The light, spacey, dreamy tracks with minimal and pulsating textures make this a pleasant massage for the mind!
Zoltan Kodaly Summer Night & Concerto for Orchestra
It's been a while the last time I listened to Kodály, and it felt great to do that so. 'Nyári este' is especially awesome.

3.5 great
Heaume Mortal Solstices
(DOLCH) Yggdrasil...Nature...Anthems
...and Oceans The Symmetry of I - The Circle of O
36 Music for Isolation
The title says it all: this is a simplistic, and comfortably melancholic drone album. And I think it captured really well that certain mood the artist aimed for.
77 Bright Gloom
Abandoned Places The Funereal Call
Abbath Abbath
Abehrum Ineffable
Abime Échos de Gloire
Abul Mogard Above All Dreams
I love the minimalist conception, the great textures and the ethereal sound.
AC/DC High Voltage
AC/DC Live at River Plate
Ahriman Osko
Alestorm Curse Of The Crystal Coconut
Not their best one, but I had great fun so there is no way I could give less than a 3.5. "We are the pirate metal drinking crew, F*CK YOU!"
Alloch Nathir The Emerald Grotto
Very calm and relaxing forest synth. Worked perfecty for reading, and I think it is a great match to any other activites as well to lift up a tired spirit.
Alloxylon Still and Sombre Death
Alpha Chrome Yayo Spectral Hands
When retrowave, jazz, dark ambient, electronic, classical and dance music meet... the result is this album.
Alphagohm Oneiros
This is not an easy listen. This is like an atmospheric horror soundtrack. Deep; very well done.
Ancient Trolltaar
Ancient Eerily Howling Winds [Demo]
Ancient Boreal Forest A Relic From The Sands of Time
So the second release of ABF this year is another great piece even though it follows a different concept, more of a medieval and black ambient mixture... still exciting one, though.
Andariel The Coldtears of Monolith
Arapaima North
An interesting, noisy, haunting soundtrack of a nightmare.
Arcana Liturgia Follow the old path
God bless Arcana Liturgia for still making great dungeon synth... This album is a well composed and polished piece of magic for the ears.
Arcane Voidsplitter Voice of the Stars
Armus Valley of Shadows
Athame (HU) Hódító (Conqueror)
Audn Audn
It wasn't that really atmospheric, to be honest. More of a very enjoyable kind of post-black metal, and I'm really glad it exist. The self-titled track was clearly my favourite, but the whole album makes a generally strong release (the production is really nice and clear, big like for the audible bass) but it's not exactly my thing. Great debut, nonetheless.
Audn Vökudraumsins fangi
Axeman Arrive
Azarath Diabolic Impious Evil
Bad Magick Superstition
It was a pretty fun hard rock EP, and damn, 'Cold Trip' was an extremly catchy song! I really hope these guys will come up with an LP soon, because they have great potential.
Bagg Tussa баґґтусса
Baptism V: The Devil's Fire
Great riffs, and the clean vocals here and there sounds especially good - however the overall package package lacks something which would make it really memorable. Still, this is a great modern black metal release.
Basalte Vertige
Basmu Infernal Circles of the Sabbat
Bathory Bathory
Bathory Hammerheart
Bathory Twilight of the Gods
Batushka Litourgiya
Batushka Raskol
A pleasant surprise, I'd say. On the slower side of the genre, and the modern edge is still in Bathuska's sound since their member-split - and personally I enjoyed it. Hospodi was more exciting in my opinion, even though I can't say it was boring or anything, especially because the vocals sound pretty interesting all the way through due to the different styles, but the overall atmopshere was great also.
Batyushka Апостол
Begging Palm Accursed Abnormal
Beherit Electric Doom Synthesis
Beherit At The Devil's Studio 1990
Filth.
Behexen By the Blessing of Satan
Bill Fisher Mass Hypnosis and the Dark Triad
Very nice doomy stoner rock album, which sometimes blends heavier tones into the overall sound. However, not every song hits that hard, but generally it is a pleasantly heavy jam, and presents Bill Fisher's other creative side - proving he can write "more metal" riffs as well. Solid bobbing material.
Black Breath Heavy Breathing
Black Label Society Stronger Than Death
Black Magick SS Panzerwitch
Black Magick SS The Black Abyss
With a better production this could be easily another solid 4.0.
Black Sabbath Vol. 4
Black Usurper Shadows Of The World
Blissful Stream Dead Religious
Blood Incantation Hidden History of the Human Race
Blood Lord Unwelcome Guests
Blut Aus Nord Hallucinogen
Bo Hansson Music Inspired by Lord Of The Rings
It was so relaxing I almost fell asleep. Interesting jazzy prog rock/electronic/ambient/whatever album.
Boru Inertia
Botanist Ecosystem
Burzum Daudi Baldrs
Burzum Draugen - Rarities
Burzum Burzum
Burzum Fallen
Burzygory Burzygóry
Very mixed bag, but sounds very nice! Some mellow folk here and there, more epic soundscapes and sinister sections - Burzygory's self-titled has them all! A bit short, but the variety within is exceptional.
Cain [RUS] Notforgiven
Calderum The solace path
Pretty good punkish raw black metal / old-school dark ambient album. Great riffs, dense atmosphere.
Candlemass Candlemass
Less exciting than their first few, but alltogether this is HEAVY as fuck. Messiah was the best singer of Candlemass.
Candlemass Ancient Dreams
Carpathian Forest Rehearsal 1992
Carpathian Forest Likeim
The clean Nattefrost also rules. Despite the general strong criticism about this short EP, this is still a nice output. Heavily hard rock influenced BM, which always highly appreciated by me.
Casimir Liberski Cosmic Liberty
NES soundtracks meet some sweet jazz. Great stuff!
Caustic Wound Death Posture
100% what Bedex said. Not far from a 4.0 though.
Celtic Frost Into the Pandemonium
Great riffs and all, but there is way too much filler on this album.
Chaucerian Myth Troilus and Criseyde
Chaucerian Myth The Faerie Queene
Chaucerian Myth Chaucerian Legends: The Epic of Beileag, Part II
Cholosus Way Of Life
Cirith Ungol Forever Black
This was pretty exciting! Too bad that the vocals and the drumming is a bit boring after a while... But the riffs, gentlemen, the riffs!!!
Craft Terror Propaganda - Second Black Metal Attack
Craft Void
Cream Disraeli Gears
It was great, literally. I wouldn't say it was the very best from what I've heard from Clapton, though. (It'll be a great background album when some friends come over.)
Crypt Master Reign of Decay
Cult of Luna Cult of Luna
Curse Upon a Prayer The Three Woes
Modern black metal rarely sounds this good - but this "theatrical" sound convinced me.
Dahlia's Tear Through the Nightfall Grandeur
Dark Cavern Dungeon Of Solitude
Dark Fortress Spectres from the Old World
Good stuff, the similarities to the Blasphemer-era Mayhem's and Mastodon's style are nice. Not bad!
Dark Vestige Songs From Saint Andrews Chapel
This is a dark, yet somewhat relaxing and highly atmospheric release, and I especially liked the medieval and middle-Eastern influences.
Dark Watcher Dark Watcher
This is pretty cool. Americana and black metal? I did not expect this could work so well together.
Darkspace Dark Space III
Darkthrone Transilvanian Hunger
Darkthrone Total Death
Darkthrone Ravishing Grimness
Darkthrone F.O.A.D.
Darkthrone Circle the Wagons
Darkthrone Thulcandra
Darkthrone Sempiternal Past - The Darkthrone Demos
David Edren Music For Mimosa Pudica & Codariocalyx
Great plant-insipred electronic release! Greatly dinamic, a very enjoyable listen.
Deadlife Monotonous Sounds of Sadness
Death Scream Bloody Gore
Death Individual Thought Patterns
Deathspell Omega Paracletus
Demonaz March of the Norse
Dengue Dengue Dengue Siete Raices
Dethklok Dethalbum III
Dodheimsgard Monumental Possession
Great album, but somehow I feel "less could have been more".
Dracula Black Wings Over Transylvania
Sweet heavy metal EP, sounds exactly like unreleased Mercyful Fate stuff.
Dragged Into Sunlight Terminal Aggressor II
Super sinister noise/doomblack combo, whichwas a bit too short (even though it is 28 minutes long)! I could listen to some more, tbh. Anyway, it was definitely an interesting listen, and I'll keep an eye on these guys in the future.
Drowning the Light A Gleam in the Eye of Set
Druad Vast Beneath the Skies
Druadan Forest The Loremasters Time
Dubioza Kolektiv Happy Machine
Dwalin Sorcery & Might
Tbh, this is the first Dwalin album I enjoyed all the way through. Basically the album sounds like Summoning, but just only the percussions and synths - and I really-really liked it!
Earthencloak Commune of the Gnomes
Edoras Lands of Shadows
It may seem very boring, but I really liked the minimalistic perspective of this album.
Electric Wizard Dopethrone
Emperor In the Nightside Eclipse
Emperor As the Shadows Rise
Empyreal Forest Divinations
The resemblances in style and in aesthetics to Depressive Silence made me like this instantly. Feels really old-school!
Emyn Muil Túrin Turambar Dagnir Glaurunga
Enforced At The Walls
Arh, this breaks my neck!! But it was basically: *Enforced:* "Can I copy your homework?" *Power Trip:* "Yeah just change it up a bit so it doesn't look obvious you copied."
Enslaved Yggdrasil
Erang Tome I
Erzebet La Ira del Infierno
You don't hear black metal albums from Columbia really often, but it turns out: Erzebet is a great band, which deserves some attention. Nice raw black metal EP with a really '90s-ish sound and great riffs.
Esoteric A Pyrrhic Existence
Eternal Fear Ancient Woods
Europe War of Kings
Evilfeast Funeral Sorcery
Evilnox Songs Of Oblivion
Evilnox's latest is an exciting, strongly folk-oriented dungeon synth release, and I liked it. Lots of interesting folk instruments, deep drones and sound samples from old videogames... I bet it was lots of fun making it!
Evoken Antithesis of Light
Expander Neuropunk Boostergang
This sounds like punk, prog metal mixed together having Bryan Giles on vocals from Red Fang. It was fun, and definitely some original material, but in the end it gets a little bit too samey - especially because each song uses the same formula. That crust punk riff in the s/t track slaps so hard...!
Fabled Black Rider In The Garden Of The Wizard
A short yet very interesting release. Very minimalistic: two tracks of super chill synth music, and the rest is like some form of "music ASMR" - perhaps some xilophone/marimba-like instruments with noises made with some sticks(?), I'm not sure, but it was a very relaxing experience.
Falls of Rauros Patterns in Mythology
False Figure A Promised End
Fattyu Ritu Paganorum
Fief V
Fiendish Imp All Hallows Eve EP
Firienholt The Crownless
Flail Snail Spring Awakening
Foetus Nail
Great album, not that weird like what I expected. The full instrumental songs were the best imo (the opener was SO great!), and I liked the rest of it too, however I found one-two songs a bit annoying and overlong. The vocals are nice and wild, fits very well to this style. And the various samples sounded simply awesome, nice work!
Fogweaver Fogweaver
Fogweaver Spellwind
The comfortably melancholic atmosphere which fills the album is very captivating, and personally I found it very relaxing. A rather slow dungeon synth release, which even tough is very well composed, suffers from being a bit too samey.
Foolish Fire Grief as a Passion
Foolish Fire The Culture of Loss
Very moody, melancholic and depressing - yet an enjoyable listen, has a very unique atmosphere. The "plague synth" tag is very accurate.
Forest Altar Contemplation
Forest Shrine Forest Shrine
Very relaxing dungeon synth (and a bit of atmoblack) release. It was a very enjoyable listen, I liked the production but most especially the overall (kinda old-school) atmosphere of it.
Forest Silence The Third Winter
Forest Wanderer A Tribute To Burzum
Forgotten Woods The Curse Of Mankind
FossaDelRumore Tafari
This was a very interesting album, very unique: a shady mix of classic drone music with industrial elements, with a strong rhythm section which is very close to tribal music. The whole thing is a pulsating, hypnotising mixture. Very interesting.
Frost (HU) Deathtree Mystery
Frozen Winds Necromantic Arts
Funeral Tears The World We Lost
Gaahls Wyrd Bergen Nov '15
Gatecreeper Gatecreeper
Gatecreeper Sweltering Madness
Ghost (SWE) If You Have Ghost
Ghost (SWE) Meliora
Ghost Veil Sleeping Garden
Glass Sigils Self​-​Titled
Glistening #38 'Half Empty'
Glory In The Shadows Glory In The Shadows
Gloryhammer Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards
Gloryhammer Legends From Beyond the Galactic Terror.
Goblin Priest Dank Vision Sewer Crawl
Super good chiptune dungeon synth release, probably one of the bests I've heard. Sounds exactly like an old video game soundtrack. Very energic and the old-school aesthetics are spot on.
Gravebomb Rot In Putrid Filth
Graven Perished and Forgotten
Gris Il Était Une Forêt...
Gruesome Twisted Prayers
Guild Of Lore Winterstead
Guild Of Lore Leaving Winterstead
Guild Of Lore Storm Haven
Guild Of Lore Autumn Macabre
Guild Of Lore Wandering Tales
100% the typical Guild Of Lore quality.
Gullinbursti Mythical Metallurgy
Nice album, sounds like the mixture of Fief and Criptadel. I kinda prefer the latter in this specific concept, but this is still a very enjoyable album!
Hajduk Свобода
Hasperim Here Lies A Kingdom In Ruins
Hath Of Rot And Ruin
Have Mercy (MD) Armageddon Descends
Hedge Wizard More True Than Time Thought
Hexelwir Honey Moon And Blackened Stars
Great, strongly folk-medieval oriented dungeon synth album. A bit lengthy, but very-well composed work.
Hiemal Best of Hiemal
Hiemal Afterglow
Hiemal The Long Road Back
Hiemal Wanderings Within Forests of Despondency II
Hiemal Arcane Ruins Become Spruce and Moss
High on Fire Surrounded By Thieves
High on Fire Bat Salad
Title song is a huge jam, the covers are great fun. Alltogether very fun EP. (Plus I love this
artwork!)
Hiidenhauta Noitia on Minun Sukuni
Hiroshi Yoshimura Green
Great ambient/electronic piece, with pretty old-school synths and with a gentle touch of field recordings. Alltogether the album has a rather slower tempo, which makes it very pleasant for reading, studying, relaxing etc.
Hirsi These Foreign Shores
Hobbit Places In Middle Earth (demo)
Holy Fawn The Black Moon
Super chill shoegaze EP. If the right amount of ambient music is involved, then it makes everything better - and that was proven true, again. I greatly enjoyed it, too bad it was just 3 songs long.
Hope Drone Void Lustre
Horna Pimeyden Hehku
Horna Musta Kaipuu
Horna Askel Lähempänä Saatanaa
The first half wasn't that memorable, however the second half is amazing. When they go mid-tempo... ah, that is really punchy! Alltogether it was a great experience, definitely would revisit it later.
Horna / Peste Noire Horna / Peste Noire
Horna / Pure Split
Hostlov Til Sorg Tar Oss
Hostlov Perpetual Darkness
A bit samey, but it has some real banger songs! A pretty good early-Burzum clone.
Hour Of Thirteen A Knell Within The Crypt
I Am A Lake Of Burning Orchids Innocence
A great mixture of noise and ambient music, definitely not a prosy album. The high contrast between the rough and harsh noise and the eeire (and kinda light) ambiences is very exciting, and combining them was a brave attempt, but it turned out very good.
Ice Golem Quest To The Ice Castle
Igorrr Spirituality and Distortion
It has its highs and lows: for example the (gated) drums are getting a bit annoying after a while, since they sound pretty much the same... and yeah, way too modern for my taste. But the experimental side of the album is pretty fun.
Immortal Blizzard Beasts
Immortal Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism
Immortal The Seventh Date of Blashyrkh
A very enjoyable live album by one of the greatest black metallers from Norway. Pretty nice sound and recording audio, Abbath is funny as always, and the setlist is beyond fantastic.
Impaled Nazarene Ugra-Karma
Impending Doom Death Will Reign
Inoriand The First Warm Day
Irithyll The Foreshadowing​
Iron Reagan Dark Days Ahead
Iron Reagan/Gatecreeper Split
Isengard Traditional Doom Cult
11 minutes of pure fun representing why is Fenriz one of the greatest blessings for humanity ever. Especially the second song "The Fright" is the special: Fenriz went full death rock in that one!! I must get this vinyl sometime...
Isengard Vårjevndøgn
It was super fun album, and surprisingly: not even a single black metal song at sight! Death rock, heavy metal, punk and even an indie folk song in the end... just woah. The Pentagram/Sabbath worship songs were clearly my favourites, but generally it was a very pleasant old-school mix of various styles and influences presented by Fenriz.
Izmor Лютовѣй
Jaaportit Kauan koskematon
Jackyl Jackyl
Jim Kirkwood Tenebrae​-​A Presence of Light
I'm a little bit disappointed. The album has a gorgeous sound, but probably due to the very long runtime I became less and less interested. However, the more droney sounds and sections brought great new "colors" into the overall atmospere - and to be honest, I loved them the most. Still a very nice Berlin school dungeon synth album.
Jo Wandrini Governor Of The North
Judas Iscariot To Embrace the Corpses Bleeding
Karmiciel Wszy Torre Bert
Kate Teague Kate Teague
Kawir Father Sun Mother Moon
Kawir Adrasteia
King Diamond Abigail
King Diamond The Dark Sides
Knell of Dawn We Are Made Of Stars
Krigere Wolf Infinite Cosmic Evocation
L'Acephale L’Acephale
Interesting album, but sometimes gets very boring. The last two songs are superb, I'd like to
hear more like those!
Lamentation Fullmoon Over Faerhaaven
Lamp of Murmuur Cursed Deambulations of the Nocturnal Entities
It was great, the artist behind LoM showed us he can write some really good dungeon synth if he wants to.
Lantlos .neon
This is cool.
Lathliss Demo II
Leander A Journey Lost to Time
Sweet, relaxing fantasy-inspired release. It was kinda like a soundtrack from a long-lost old-school videogame (or movie?) mixed with lo-fi ambiences and a tiny bit of classical music. I can highly recommend it as a background music for reading.
Lichmagick Lichmagick
Lord Lovidicus Autumnal Winds And Times Of Yore
Lord Mantis Death Mask
Ah~ this is filthy. Pretty heavy and unique, but I think it is not exactly my taste. I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Lothric Adversarial Light
Madball Set It Off
Nothing amazing but its not mediocre either. [2] Yeah, alltogether the album was a great listen, but nothing really stood out for me.
Madball Hardcore Lives
Magic Lantern (DS) Skeleton Key
A pleasantly melodic dungeon synth piece, which strongly builds upon 8-bit music elements. Anyone who's into old-school videogame soundtracks may like this as well.
Malauriu Morte
Strong release - from the beginning to the end. Sadly, it's way too short...
Malokarpatan Krupinské Ohne
That stolen Scorpions riff in the "Na černém kuoni sme lítali firmamentem" is the most fun thing ever I've heard in black metal. Very mixed bag, and I really enjoyed the various influences presented, but somehow it kinda lacks some punch. Bonus points for the great samples, and for the Carpathian folk elements (plus on the cover).
Marblebog Kietlen
Rather slow and melancholic, 'Kietlen' is a pretty good BM release with obvious early-Burzum influences.
Master's Hammer Jilemnický Okultista
Some songs are a bit too monotonous, but alltogether it was a fun album! I love the cheesy synths. Pretty nice old-school first wave BM stuff, especially the last two tracks were my favourites.
Mastodon Once More 'Round the Sun
Mayhem Psywar
Mayhem Esoteric Warfare
Medieval Rites Norse Mythology: A Viking Saga
A heartwarming piece of medieval folk music with ambient vibes. Great producion and pretty melodies. This is one of those albums you want to play in the background when you're about to read a book.
Megadeth Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!
Megadeth Cryptic Writings
Megadeth So Far, So Good... So What!
Megadeth Dystopia
Meshuggah I
Metallica ...And Justice for All
Metallica The $5.98 E.P.: Garage Days Re-Revisited
Midieval Midieval
Midnight Odyssey Forest Mourners
Pretty good atmoblack release. More or less reminded me to Summoning and to the early Xasthur releases.
Misertus Outland
Mizmor Cairn
Moaning Shadows From The Darkest Heritage (EP)
Moaning Shadows Between the Lines
Monosymbiosis 1
Slow, dense, deep and sinister. Very good horror drone!
Mooncitadel Moon Calls to Wander the Winter's Majesty
Moonless Nights In Old Chambers Of Castle Wewelsburg
Morbid Carnage Glory To Satan Soldiers
Mork Eremittens Dal
Morketsvind Storhet av Morke
Super fun D-beat EP with a little touch of dungeon synth. 100% garascore.
Mortiis Ånden Som Gjorde Opprør
Mortiis Født til å Herske
Mortiis Blood And Thunder
Moukeprabbeli Bogs And Frogs And Nightly Fog
This sounds VERY-VERY similar to Krampusnacht, but with a different concept. (Same artist, maybe?) Anyway, I loved the atmosphere (which is a bit creepy, but playful at the same time) and simply the sound of this release.
Moulderyawn From Whence the Woods...
Municipal Waste The Art of Partying
Municipal Waste Slime and Punishment
Mutiilation Remains Of A Ruined, Dead, Cursed Soul
This was pretty bad at the beginning, but it got drastically better from the second half of the album.
Mutiilation Vampires of Black Imperial Blood
It's pretty straight-forward BM as it is. Super raw, but in the best way. Personally I dug probably the vocals the most.
Myrkur Mareridt
Mythmaker The Hero's Journey
Despite the dungeon synth tag on Bandcamp, I won't count this as a DS release. This is basically programmed folk/classical music, exactly what you hear in modern video games, or movies. And this is a very good release! The production is spot on, everything sound nice and clean. Exciting themes, dense cinematic atmosphere - kinda reminded me to the good ol' Gothic's soundtrack (the videogame).
Nachtjaeger Night Hunters
A short, calm and melancholic dungeon synth release. Maybe if it'd be longer then I could give it a better rating.
Nanowar of Steel Stairway to Valhalla
Nargaroth Black Metal Ist Krieg (A Dedication Monument)
Nargaroth Geliebte des Regens
Neckbeard Deathcamp White Nationalism is for Basement Dwelling Losers
I'm not even mad, but this surely has some cool riffs, and better than tons of lo-fi bm bands.
Nifheldhur Of Wolf and Battle
Strong debut, and I don't really get the '90s-vibes despite what's written in the project's description on Bandcamp... The overall sound is like an exciting mixture of Olgerd + Murgrind + Thangorodrim, which is very nice.
Night Foundation Way of Life
Night Tapes Dream Forever In Glorious Stereo
Nimbifer Demo I
Nimbifer Demo II
Great second wave worship demo, it has everything what makes a release stand out from the other boring BM albums on Bandcamp: good riffs and the aesthetics (cover, lo-fi production etc.).
No Point in Living Last Promise
Great atmo-DSBM album with some original attributes. The additional string intruments and the groovier riffs blend together surprisingly well.
NONE Life Has Gone On Long Enough
Nthng Shine
Really nice stuff. I especially loved the first song, "Shine". Such ethereal (aquatic?) ambient pieces are my weaknesses, I just deeply love 'em. The rest was also good! I wasn't really aware this kind of techno exists, so it was a nice surprise for me. The additional noises added a nice texture to the whole thing, but those reverby pad synths outshined everything.
Obituary Obituary
Odd Person The flowers of arcadia
The cover art catched my attention, and the music turned out to be pretty good as well. A nice, playful experimentation with the effects on tape loops and small keyboard melodies.
OLD (US) Modern Scum
Old Sorcery An Inkling of Void
A rather slow, dreamlike, and I think pretty winter synth-ish EP. A perfect choice for a gloomy day - a relaxing experience.
Old Tower The Rise of the Specter
Olgerd Dagor-Nuin-Giliath
Orkenblut Mysteria Arkana, Bd. II
Deep, dark and mysterious. Orkenblut's second release is a very interesting one with odd sounds and noises with an omnious atmosphere.
Ozzy Osbourne Blizzard of Ozz
Pagan Altar Mythical & Magical
Panzerfaust The Suns of Perdition - Chapter I: War, Horrid War
Pathway Песни смерти
Paysage d'Hiver Paysage d'Hiver
Paysage d'Hiver Kerker
Peste (IT) Peste
Pierre Schaeffer Cinq études de bruits
This is amazing in a very weird way. Doing this stuff in '48 more than revolutionary!
Pig Destroyer The Octagonal Stairway
It was great! The Pig Destroyer dudes created another more experimental EP, with a fresh and exciting sound. The first half contains more typical grind tracks, including their latest singles, accompanied by a huge punch in the second half which contains lots of noise, drones and sound samples - hats off, Blake Harrison!
Precious (USA) He Has Abandoned Us
Profecium Socialismo Satánico
Hesitantly, but here it goes a 3.5. This sounds great: tasty black/thrash metal riffs, and oh my, that beautiful old-school bass tone!! Hats off to the guitarist and the bassist, they sounded exceptionally good in this record. *But the biggest problems are: the vocals are very-very weak, the synths are a bit annoying and I can't take these guys seriously... just have a look on the album's title or the antifa lyrics... and it sounded pretty funny in Spanish*. But I love old-school stuff BM, so alltogether it was a very great listen.
Pumpkinlord Tricks 'N' Treats
Rabor Боги и Герои / Gods and Heroes
Red Fang Only Ghosts
Rings of Saturn Dingir
River Tiber Indigo
Riviere de Corps Tout est chaos
It was some super cool noise / ambient album, with an interesting punkish attitude. Unique stuff.
Ruin Dweller Brasov
Runeshard Dreaming Spire
Running Wild Under Jolly Roger
Great album, I really enjoyed it. Maybe with a better production this could have punched harder, but since I have no info about how the album was made, I accept it in this way. The vocals were very interesting to me, because sounded like a mixture of Dave Mustaine's vocals presented in Summoning'a style and it worked really well in this record. 80s heavy metal never disappoints.
Running Wild Gates to Purgatory
This album is the perfect example of what "great" (3.5) means.
Sabbra The Sun​,​The Moon​,​The Stars
It took me too much time to realise why did I find it so odd: no guitars. Interesting
technique, and the result is great. This is punky, this is black, and...this is very short.
Slightly under 4.0.
Samael Worship Him
Saor Forgotten Paths
Satanic Warmaster Opferblut
Satanic Warmaster Revelation
Satyricon Volcano
Satyricon Intermezzo II
Pretty cool EP, with lots of experimentation. The last industrial/dark ambient song is one of the most among of the most exciting stuff the band ever released, and tbh, it really sounds exactly like a Thorns-song...
Satyricon The Shadowthrone
Satyricon The Age Of Nero
Satyricon The Forest Is My Throne
Scary Larry Demo 2
Secret Stairways Enchantment of the Ring
Selvhat Gjennom mørket famlende
Sequestered Keep The Vale of Ruined Towers
Sequestered Keep Magic Amidst the Falling Leaves
Serment Chante, O Flamme de la Liberte
Great atmoblack release with great production and Cascadian-vibes (a bit).
Serpent Column Invicta
Serpent Column Mirror In Darkness
Serpent's Isle Archaic Oceans
Serpent's Isle Tales of Frigid Waters
SevenSins Legends Of Kazakhstan
Strong, but a bit short (33 minutes) debut. This rather thrashy BM was the very first one I've heard from Kazakhstan, but it definitely won't be the last. I expected some folky interludes or something, but sadly there wasn't any. Anyway, the riffs are solid, so I can't complain.
Seventh Circle (US) Cycle of Violence
Ahhhh, this is a filthy beast and I love it! Really heavy death/doom with hardcore elements. Shame it is just 3 songs long...
Shadowland (RUS) A
Shield Roar Single Combat
Very nice old-school black metal and dungeon synth EP. The ambient pieces are very atmospheric and I pretty much enjoyed them, however the black metal songs are pretty great as well - they have that certain early-Burzum vibe and style I really like. More of this, please.
Shining (SWE) X - Varg Utan Flock
Even though this is considered a "safe" album, this is far better than countless of others. Songs like 'Jag r Din Fiende' are solid jams.
Sick Puppies Dressed Up as Life
Sidereal Fortress The Hermit's Hole
Nice concept album, I found especially the atmosphere captivating, and the folk parts are very enjoyable as well. These more simple compostions fit better to this project, imo.
Sign Of Evil Psychodelic Horror
Pretty fun death rock/black metal album with exciting sound samples. Even though it masterfully captured that certain atmosphere what (usually) can be found at similar bands, but it was a little bit too short for my taste and a few songs were rather weak.
SiJ Floating Clouds
Skeleton Pyramid Of Skulls
Sick demo. It is more punkier and generally less exciting than their s/t LP, but also riffs hard.
Slayer God Hates Us All
Soltri The Rising of the King Arthur
Soltri XV. Atra Mors
Soraksan When tigers smoked pipes...
Spectral Castle I've always been here, as far as I remember​.​.​.
Spectral Lore and Mare Cognitum Sol
Pretty cosmic black metal album (maybe a bit blackgazey?) The amount of reverb in the mix was a little bit too much for my taste and the second song was a bit weaker than expected. Around 40 minutes in, I felt the album is getting a bit overlong. The long space ambient song in the end was very pleasing though, finishing the album with great elegancy.
Stirge Stirge
Stirge Stirge II
Stone Marrow Messiah, Deceiver
Striges Verum Veterum
Everything about this screams "this is a Shatraug project!" - which is a great thing. However, I somehow feel he kept his best riffs for Horna, and he gave less effort into this band. The production is very modern, and to be honest I liked it, and most importantly each song flows well. However, alltogether the release feels a bit overlong which dampens the listening experience, and aiming through a 5 minutes longtime per song was also a bit overconfidient. Needless to say, this is a very enjoyable album, and anyone who enjoys the more traditional second wave direction filled with melodies shall like this album.
Sulphosfurous Solitary Key
Great first-wave-ish black metal with strong stoner and black'n'roll influences. Great jam.
Summoning Lugburz
Sunn O))) The Grimmrobe Demos (Demo)
Sunn O))) White2
Sunn O))) Dømkirke
Sunn O))) Solstitium Fulminate
Sunn O))) Life Metal
Sunn O))) and Ulver Terrestrials
Sunsunmoon Demons in Medieval Times
Svarograd Magical machinery
Synthosaurus Rise of the Synthosaurs
Synthosaurus Reptical Wrath
Synthosaurus Secret of the Lost Land
Synthosaurus Metalosauric Crush
Synthosaurus Prehistoric Gods
System of a Down Protect The Land/Genocidal Humanoidz
Good to hear them again, Genocidal Humanoidz was clearly superior (a black metal-ish riff?!) but both songs felt emotional enough for me. I'm just glad they're back. (...but I feel kinda sad too. Best wishes to the people in Artsakh, 2020 is very rough for them.)
Szivilizs Ds Tagtroumschtärbä (demo)
Taake Kong Vinter
Taake / Deathcult Jaertegn (Split)
Great split, Hoest is awesome as usual - and surprisingly, the cover songs were the real treat! Deathcult didn't really convince me, but their Beherit cover sounded awesome. Nice jam! m/
Talog Ukleta Kotlina
Tangorodrim Justus Ex Fide Vivit
Tar'Goraan Hollow Hearts
Teen Daze Four More Years
Temple of Void The World That Was
Yup, this is good. I dig the vocals, pretty standard but fits to the whole thing pretty well. The riffs are good, (yes it chugs m/), but I felt the guitars get a bit boring after a while... these solo-kinda-things weren't that great, tbh. But I'm glad it has some pretty synths in some songs, great addition to the sound!
Tender Defender Tender Defender
Thangorodrim Towers of the Teeth (Demo)
The Cursed Cold One The Hag Of The Sea
Great diversity in a quite short release. Lots of very good ideas, and original sounds - especially the percussions.
The Future Sound of London Yage 2019
The House of Capricorn The Rivers and the Rain
The Noisy Freaks Straight Life
The Obsessed Sacred
The Police Reggatta de Blanc
~Sending out an SOS~ The album is mostly super catchy, and the bass is incredibly good, tbh: one of the greatests I've ever heard. The second half of the album lacks some spark, shame... but alltogether this is a great and light album, relaxing background music for working and so on.
The Rolling Stones Aftermath
The Rolling Stones Blue and Lonesome
Back to their roots, and it sounded very good. If you got bored by this, then you have problems.
The Soviet Space Dog Project History of Radio
The Trees Community Christ Tree
The True Werwolf / Druadan Forest Split
Thokkian Vortex Thy Throne is Mine
Pretty diverse release, especially in the second half. The riffing is absolutely follows the "typical" Norwegian style, and some melodies sounds really familiar (not recycled though!). The non-BM songs are fun and/or pretty - good addition. And I think they definitely made this album more memorable than otherwise.
Thornwing Solitary Madness in Crystalline Caverns
Thule thule Under the spell of
Thy Darkened Shade Liber Lvcifer I: Khem Sedjet
Alltogether this is a great black metal album, but I couldn't rate it above 3.5. The reason is simple: even though I dig the riffs, the overall album gets a bit samey and overlong after a while. The chanting vocals are great addition, but the harsh vocals are very-very boring. And despite the fast speed, somehow it wasn't "snappy" enough.
Trvth A Galvanizing Derivation
Trvth Process of Adaptation
Great black metal from the Captain, as usual. "Acceptance" is one of my most favourite Trvth track.
Tsjuder Demonic Possession
Just slightly under 4.0. Tons of heavy riffs (some are pretty DM alike) -so the usual high quality Tsjuder. The only problem is the mixing: the vocals and the drums are chocking the guitar, and the bass is nearly inaudible.
TSM aka This Soft Machine On & On / This Place Was Meant For Me
Ulver Wars of the Roses
Umbria Demo
Umbria The Sleeping Wizard
Pretty, dinamic and enchanting work from Umbria - less folk/classical oriented than the previous LP, more on the fantasy synth side. And I sensed some similarities to Mirkwood, and Chaucerian Myth, which is very welcomed. Also: bonus points best artwork of the year, so far.
Unholy Vampyric Slaughter Sect Order of the Rose Cross
Ur Pale Sea Synth Ensemble
Ur Pale Water Tombs & Crimson Horizons
Urrnil Killer of malevolence (demo)
Urrnil Fabularum
Utred Forest
Utred Citadel
Utred Tribute
Uuntar Voorvaderverering
Nice atmoblack album, really reminded me to Evilfeast but these guys have a bit different style. This release a bit "blunt" sound, putting the guitars more into the background was a bit strange at first but I think it work really well in building up the atmosphere. The album has a pretty nice, organic drum sound and the chanting type of vocals sounded also great. Talented band, took me some time to get into their sound.
Vaelastrasz Adventures of the Red Whelpling
Vagtazo Halottkemek A semmi kapuin dorombolve
This is really wild stuff. Ethno-punk/shaman-punk or whatever is it, one thing is sure: this band has a very unique sound. Not an easy listening, (especially if you don't get the lyrics...) but this is an unforgettable experience. The album slowly crawls inside your head if you give it the required patience...
Vargrav (FIN) Netherstorm
Various Artists (Ambient) Healing Sounds II: A compilation for those in need
Ved Buens Ende Written In Waters
Velnias Scion of Aether
Album is a continous proggy doom riff-fest, with a small amount of black metal influences. Great jam!
Venom Hell
Vetur Vist
A pretty black metal/folk release - but a hard riffing one! Iceland's output is super massive lately.
Vitamin X Age Of Paranoia
Very-well made hardcore release, not exactly that good as "About To Crack" was, but still, this is a heavy and fun album.
Vlad Tepes War Funeral March
Exactly what Scuro said. It is some more great and original raw BM.
Vltimas Something Wicked Marches In
It was a definitely great album, but looking at the overall package: it has its downsides. Especially the often mentioned vocals, which was clearly the weakest aspect in my opinion. It just felt simply out of pace a little bit, maybe a different vocal style could have been a better option. Also, I'm still not a big fan of these modernish drum sounds, but fortunately Blasphemer's insanely good riffs outshined everything.
Void (BRA) The Realms of the Unreal
Voslaarum Secrets from Darklight Tower
Voslaarum Immortal Blood
Wake Devouring Ruin
Whatever is this: this is heavy. The different songs lengths are pretty odd, I feel some songs could have been shorter.
Wampyric Solitude Carpathian Melancholy
I'm a simple man, and I do really enjoy these kind of ethereal drone/ambient albums!
Weather Report Mysterious Traveller
It was a surely nice and lovely album, but it felt a little bit "hollow" to me. But it still had a nice impact on my mood while working, though - so it stays as a pretty background music for me.
Werendia Werendia
Werendia Småland
Werendia Folkvandringen
A kinda "one trick pony" type of band, but they perform that trick very well. I love these rather slow and melancholic atmoblack releases, and Werendia is very good at it. It was the best one (so far) from all the 3 releases, slightly more varied and interesting than the others. Pretty calm, and it was great background music for working. Great band!
Whispering Mirrors The Stuff of Old Dreams
It was really nice, but some songs (I assume both sides are seamless mixes of several songs) felt a bit out of place = less inspired / magical. However, this is an interesting album which mixes old-school and modern sounds.
Whitesnake Slip of the Tongue
The cheesiness and the catchiness of this album is fantastic - I liked it.
Windir 1184
winter woods Adirondack Evil
winter woods Adirondack Evil 2
Witch Claw Summoning of the Heksevin
Witch Haunt A Full Moon Shone On Hallows Eve
The best halloween dungeon synth album of the year award goes to Witch Haunt!
Witch Tomb Lord of Blizzards
Witchsteel Mountain of the Red Flame
I'm a bit disappointed. I'm a big fan of the artist, since he brought many great releases into the scene - but this is a straight-up Thangorodrim "copy"... and the spoken lines are quite meh. However, the album's aura and the aesthetical elements are damn fine and enjoyable. Plus I love the artwork.
Wode Wode
Great mix of heavy metal and melodic black. Very pleasant listen, the guitars have some extra, making this band sound original.
Wolves in the Throne Room Diadem Of 12 Stars
Wooden Memory The Lost Stories
Xasthur Telepathic With The Deceased
Xasthur Subject To Change
Xibalba Años En Infierno
I was tempted by the sick cover, stayed for the riffs.
Yellow Eyes Rare Field Ceiling
Ysengrin Parergon
It was a great dungeon synth release, the overall sound perfectly imitates the old-school aesthetics, so generally it sounds like something from straight out from the '90s. A bit repetitive, and not each song is that exciting, but definitely worth the time.
Zakk Sabbath Vertigo
Exactly what manosg said. His take on 'The Wizard' is: a w e s o m e.
Zombi Shape Shift

3.0 good
0 (Null) Null & Void
It has its moments, but somehow it lacks a consistency. The atmosphere is alright, but time to time it loses from the magic and becomes a bit boring. However, it was a very promising debut. (And I'm glad to see the improvement in their first LP.)
A Monumental Black Statue Aere perennius
A Swarm of the Sun The Woods
It was good, I liked the dark atmosphere, but the album did not offer anything extraordinary. The vocals were really awkward, which is a huge minus.
Abbath Outstrider
Abysa Searemony
Ethereal, calm and relaxing. I can't get enough from these aquatic-inspired droney releases!
AC/DC Black Ice
AC/DC Power Up
Adiaphora Nebra
The reason why was this tagged as dungeon synth is a mystery to me, however it was a pretty chill guitar-centered ambient release, which varies between calm ambiences and darker atmospheres.
Agnes Obel Myopia
It's alright.
Akercocke Words That Go Unspoken...
Akerius Arcanum Hermeticum
It was nice, the album flows very nicely but I always had that certain feeling of "did I hear this somewhere before?".
Alestorm Black Sails at Midnight
Alestorm Sunset on the Golden Age
Alpha Drone Alpha Drone
Amiensus Restoration
Amn Lands of Intrigue
I loved the analog synth sounds and effects, but this album was too hollow for me... Very nice concept (please, more Faern-based dungeon synth!), but the some of the song titles sound more exciting than certain tracks, and I'm quite sad about to say that.
An Old Sad Ghost Speertraeger - A Rotten Compilation
Ancient Det Glemte Riket
Ancient Boreal Forest Grim Ages
Archosaur One Million Years B​.​C.
This was an okay-ish concept-demo, but hey: more dino synth is always good.
Argol Six Spells
Arkham Hearse The Starry Wisdom
A dungeon synth LSD trip? It was a wild one, but pretty interesting.
Arnaut Pavle Arnaut Pavle
Arthuros Ithildin
Asagraum Dawn of Infinite Fire
Nice second wave worship, but forgettable. Each song stands very well on its own, but the overall package is very-very samey.
Ashmadai Symphonies for the Kings
Augie March Sunset Studies
Azusa Loop of Yesterdays
While I acknowledge these guys talent and great ideas they showed in this album - but I did not enjoy this as much as I expected. I might be way too eclectic, but... I have no intention to change about this, haha! The riffs and the song structures are fairly interesting and exciting ("Kill / Destroy" is a great jam m/), but on the other side I'm not entirely satisfied with the vocals (I mean the harsh vocals, I loved the clean sections), and with the production. (Those "clicking" and overly compressed drums are the most horryfing thing ever in modern metal...)
Balrog [FRA] The Dark Tower
Barad-Dur Druid's Grove
I expected something greatly different (because the project's name in the first place), but I liked this. A pretty neo-folkish ambient piece.
Bathory Octagon
Batushka Panihida
Beartooth Aggressive
Beneath Ancient Branches Demo 1
Berdische Demo
A charming little piece of dungeon noise. I loved those old-school Yamaha synths from the very beginning, and the minimalistic percussion (which sounds like it was sampled from some cans or I don't know) was oddly cool.
Bibio Phantom Brickworks
Pretty. The piano wasn't always a good addition though.
Big|Brave A Gaze Among Them
Black Altar Black Altar
Black Flag Damaged
Blackmage Baader-Meinhof
Well, this is not bad at all. I expected an epic failure from Ghostemane, but this is in exactly in the same league with the hordes of one-man BM bands on Bandcamp. Only the last track stood out for me, but it was nice.
Blink-182 California (Deluxe Edition)
BLVCK CEILING THRONE
Borg Ugglor i Mossen
The "darker" Borg was enjoyable as well, but it wasn't that captivating for me like the others.
Burzum From the Depths of Darkness
Burzum Sol austan, Mani vestan
Burzum Balders Død (Dauði Baldrs demo)
Cabaret Voltaire Micro-Phonies
This didn't revolutionized my music taste, but this is pretty nice. Those synths are tasty!
Candlekeep The Death of the Gatekeeper
It was lovely, but I think it wasn't that exciting to deserve a 3.5. Hopefully the next release shall have it!
Celestial Conjuration Demo I
Celestial Conjuration Demo II
It's alright. Nice lo-fi atmoblack, but too short and lacks some fantasy. Good for one listen, but that's all.
Celtic Frost Emperor's Return
Chainmail Chainmail
Pretty cool debut with a lovely old-schoolish atmosphere.
Chaucerian Myth The Canterbury Tales
Chaucerian Myth The Book of Margery Kemp
Chelsea Wolfe Birth of Violence
Children's Book When Fate Was Fair
(Terrible band name.) It's an okay dungeon synth album. I liked the overall sound of it, but the songwriting is all over the place, there is no driving concept or theme within plus most of these tracks are way too short, so it gives almost no opportunity to get into the atmosphere.
Church of the Cosmic Skull Everybody's Going to Die
Well, it is clearly their weakest. Not bad, but the songs are way less exciting and memorable like in the previous albums. Nyeh. I think it could have been much better if they would give more time for this record to "polish" these songs a bit more.
Still, this is a very good classic psychedelic rock album.
Cisza If It Is True What the Prophets Write
Clown Core Toilet
Clown Core van
It was rad. Their typical weirdness is still entertaining. I sensed some improvement: more and better sax solos, and very nice "rest" songs, like 'tears of god' and 'end' - the latter was especially very sweet for me, because I love such ethereal drones. Alltogether, the experimental grind-jazz-whatever duo still makes interesting music, but I don't see myself jamming it very often though.
Coffin Moth Night Of The Witch
Coldworld Melancholie
Coniferous Myst Forest Rehearsal 5​.​20​.​19
Conjurer (UK) Mire
Corpus Hibernus As The Blood Freezes In My Veins
Count Shirintsu Welcome home, Count Shirintsu
Count Shirintsu Spirit of the Earth
Cult of Frey By The Blood of Odin: Part 1 - Midgard
A traditional viking metal album with pleasant old-school vibes, but a little bit cheesy.
Cyhyraeth (UK) Cyhyraeth
Nice little old-schoolish DS EP, very harmonic and peaceful. But way too short to have a strong impact on me.
Dagor-Nuin-Giliath First Age
Dark Ages Chronicle of the Plague
Darkthrone NWOBHM
Darkthrone Dark Thrones and Black Flags
Darkthrone Land of Frost
Darkthrone Cromlech
Dead To A Dying World Elegy
Deafheaven Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
Deepforest Blackvalley
Deftones Ohms
It was a good listen, but I don't really think I'll come back for this more than a few times.
Delmak-O Cerulean Tomb
Nice Berlin-school/drone mixture album. I especially liked the concept behind it, but alltogether the music wasn't that exciting to me... Bonus points for the awesome cover, though.
Deorc Weg The Sleepwalk Sessions
Dethklok The Doomstar Requiem
Digre (SWE) Saint Moses the Black
DIM (CA) Compendium III
A very different DIM album. It's more grim and has an interesting sound which accompanies the regular medieval ambient sounds - not really dungeon synth-ish in my opinion. It was a pleasant listen though, nothing is wrong with it, just not my style.
Disciple of Dagon Demo
District Unknown [Anatomy of a 24 Hour Lifetime]
Dodheimsgard Supervillain Outcast
Dodheimsgard Kronet Til Konge
Donny Benet Mr. Experience
The 5.0 album art. + Damn, this guy is the master of the bass. I love those cheesy synths... too bad the vocals are a bit lame, however the choruses are very catchy.
Dungeon Altar The Hunter
Quite good little EP - anyone who likes chiptune dungeon synth would enjoy this.
Dungeontroll Journey through the Forest of Uzohr
Even though this was made as a joke, to form the "epitope" of those shitty 11 minute dungeon synth demos: this is good one. Just some minimal, well composed melodies.
Dungeontroll Tales from the Northern Chamber
Dungeontroll From the Shining Kingdom of Uzohr
Earth Machine Clad in a Forest of Dark Fir
I definitely enjoyed this DS demo from the modern branch of the genre. The techno-ish elements are odd, but sounded nice.
Ecdelegost Erebor
Quite good Tolkien-inspired release. Not really outstanding, but noteworthy.
Edoras Doors of Moria
Ekthelion Under A Mournful Moon
It is pretty and has an uniquely interesting atmosphere, but tends to be very boring after a while...
Eldamar The Force of the Ancient Land
Eldritch Archways Twilit Woods of Yore
My only problems with this release is that every song sounds like an interlude or intro before something "extra", so it is a bit "hollow" but the melodies and the instruments are all good, so it's not bad.
Elgra Forest Kingdom
Eminem Kamikaze
Emperor Emperor
Emperor Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk
Empire of the Moon Έκλειψις
A "standard" black metal release, with slightly more exciting riffing.
Enid Enid
Ente (MEX) Vida y Muerte
Erdstall Caverns of Endless
Erykah Badu New Amerykah Pt. One: 4th World War
Eternal Axe Endless Fantasy
Nice little demo. I liked the old-schoolish vibes and the atmosphere.
Eternal Axe Wizard odyssey
Pretty diverse, and atmospheric - too bad some tracks were a bit too flat and boring compared to others. The last two neo-folk songs are outstandingly good though!
Eternal Valley The Falling Light
Ex Eye Ex Eye
Exhibito In Nobis
Very interesting album, the overall sound and atmosphere is something what an alien spaceship-centered horror movie could have. Otherworldy sounds, dungeon noises, pulsating synths + impossible to predict where it goes, however the album flows nicely and kept me interested all the way through.
Fanebaerer Fra Hånd Til Jord
Fantomas Delìrium Còrdia
Foglord Celestial
Forgjord Laulu Kuolemasta
Forlorn Citadel Ashen Dirge of Kingslain
Fornicus Sulphuric Omnipotence
It's alright. Bonus point for the sick cover art.
Frayle The White Witch
Galdur Age of Legends
Garadrak Loremaster
Garadrak Cyclopean Sorrows
Light and melodic, but not charming enough for me. It's good for a listen, but I'm a bit disappointed.
Germfood Night Of The Consumers - OST
It was pretty fun. The great soundtrack was a key factor in the game's succes for me, because it is not just kinda creepy but respectfully evokes that special atmospere I love(d) so much in old-school video games.
Ghost (SWE) Seven Inches Of Satanic Panic
Glemt Animus (demo)
Gnipahalan Vannalosa Urskepnader
Goatsnake Breakfast with the King b​/​w Deathwish
The 10/10 guitar tone. Pretty nice EP, I definitely enjoyed it, but it's barely more than nothing...
Goblin Contamination
It was nice. But except a few songs, it wasn't really memorable.
Gorgoroth A Sorcery Written in Blood
Goropsy Drawing Pictures in the Dark because I Miss You
Grandma's Cottage Grandma's Cottage
Grausamkeit Christenschmähung
Gravetemple Ambient / Ruin (demo)
Green-House Six Songs for Invisible Gardens
It is good, but nothing really outstanding or noteworthy. A handful of chill ambient/electronic tracks about plants, but that's all.
Hajduk Кръв
Halfling Rune Squire
Hayley Williams Petals For Armor
Hey, it wasnt't half as bad as I expected. It has some pretty nice and catchy songs but there are pretty awful ones there as well. And oh my... some lyrics are soooo AWKWARD! Oh, and the nice bass lines worth some bonus points! But minus point for the overlong runtime.
Hellvetic Frost Towards a Distant World
Hiemal Cathedral Rocks
Hiemal Haze of Old Valleys
Hiemal Yukon
Hiemal Wanderings Within Forests of Despondency
Hiemal Empyreal Woods
Highland Spokesman Sounds
Pretty ethereal drones.
Hirotaka Shirotsubaki slowdance​,​lowtide
It was pretty and relaxing, but that's all. So, here it comes yet another 3.0 rating~
Hole Dweller flies the coop
Hole Dweller Returns to Roost
A better Hole Dweller album, but I'm still not particularly excited about this project... it is nice, but I don't want to jam this repeatedly.
Holokaust 2001 A Death Odyssey
So, the drummer from Slstafir made a DSBM/black ambient album? It's alright, and has its moments, but it's not the most memorable album I've ever heard.
Homselvareg Catastrofe
Horna Haudankylmyyden Mailla
A surprisingly rather forgettable album, but at least it contains many great riffs. But the weakest vocal performance in the band's history is a huge minus. Shame.
Horna Viha Ja Viikate
Horna Hiidentorni (demo)
Hornwood Fell Damno Lumina Nocte
Hour Of Thirteen Feast And Flame
Human Tetris Memorabilia
I'm not really into post-punk, but I liked this. Perhaps I was just in the mood for this, or I don't know~ The darkwave elements are the best.
I Should've Been A Lighthouse Keeper You Will Be Forgotten
Igorrr Savage Sinusoid
"So, what genre do you play guys?" ... Basically, YES.
Illusory Gates Dusk in the Old​-​Woods
Illyria The Carpathian Summit
Inferno (NO) Utter Hell
Pretty standard old-school thrash album. Sometimes it gets a bit samey, and I felt some songs are overlong. However, it had its moments where the great riffs could really kick in.
Inoriand Touch Of Frost
Irithyll Frozen in Time
It's a calm and easy listen, I found it particularly good whilst reading.
James Knott Tantamount
jofi Lafcádio
Jorvvik Jorvvik
Judas Iscariot Heaven In Flames
Judas Iscariot An Ancient Starry Sky
Kalmankantaja Nostalgia II: My Kingdom
Somewhat better than most of the Burzum copycats I've heard, especially the synths are really close to what you can hear in Varg's albums - someone did some research, eh? The riffs are very-very similar, sometimes almost the same, to some Burzum riffs, probably just a few changes here and there to make it different. Furthermore, the vocals sound extremly close to the iconic Filosofem-type of sound, so hats off, someone did the homework right. But allogether, I can't give a better score than a 3.0 because it wasn't really original and the lack of progression is getting boring after some time - but the aesthetics are spot on, which is this release's only, but notewrothy strength.
Kathaaria The Complex Void of Negativity
Pretty good proggy black metal, with especially strong instrumental sections. It is surprising to see that it was released in 2008... they were kinda ahead of their time!
Kensington Rivals
Kensington Control
Kensington Vultures
Kill Your Idols This Is Just the Beginning
This riffs. m/ The vocals kinda drags it down, though.
Kormorg Dungeon myths
Korog Mumus
Krampusnacht Trinity : I - The Father
Kvelertak Splid
I'm disappointed. Most of the tracks turned out pretty lame... "Br�tebrann", "Fanden ta dette hull!" & "Delirium tremens" were outstandingly awesome. But the rest? Uninspired (and not black enough!!!!) - pretty much the same case like it was with 'Nattesfred'. And this really saddened me because I'm sure they still have the potential to write something like the self-titled or 'Meir'. Also, I'm satisfied with the new singer, he's a fuckin' awesome screamer (but please, do not try to sing...).
Lamp of Murmuur Heir of Ecliptical Romanticism
It was good, but most songs felt painfully overlong - maybe the title track was the strongest exception which was really enjoyable. The more death-rockish riffs were nice, but most of the album wasn't really memorable for me. Furthermore I'm not satisfied with the mix either - I simply don't care about the vocals this much, because they're not that exciting... it was too much. The demos were far better than this release, shame.
Lantlos Lantlos
The first three songs didn't really impressed me, but 'Kalte Tage' and 'Ein' delivered exactly what I previously expected from this album.
Legend of the Seagullmen Legend of the Seagullmen
Limbonic Art Promo 1995 [Demo]
Linkin Park Reanimation
Lobby Boxer Eugene's Preference
Longsword Longsword
Lord Einsamkeit A Most Certain Death
Lord Einsamkeit Intolerant Tyranny
Lord Einsamkeit Eternal Suffering
Lord Orots Latzineko Erresumaren Itzulera
Lumiere Pieśni Miłosne i Żałobne
Lunacy (US) Melancholic Invocations
Nice atmoblack/black album, this band has some potential.
Lustre (SWE) A Glimpse of Glory
Lycanthropic Depression On Wings of Bats
It was surely something interesting, but not exciting enough for more than one listen. The atmosphere is spot on - like how I'd expect it from a black ambient album - but even as an EP is is very-very short, and with a slightly more effort it could have been much more and much more exciting. But I dig the aesthetics and the main concept.
Lye The Imprisoned Plague Dance
Magnum The Serpent Rings
It's good for a solid jam, but it is kinda punchless and not really exciting or "atmospheric" enough to make me want to jam this repeatedly... + their previous one was lot more catchy than this.
Maladia Demo
Maletum Reckless Age
The strong neo-classical and medieval ambient vibes are nice, but for me the more epic and adventurous song, "Hearth", was clearly the best (awesome Thangorodrim vibes!). No bad for a debut.
Maletum Chosen
Mammoth Grinder Cosmic Crypt
Marblebog Ermitus
A grim and moody black metal/ambient release. In production and riffs this EP shows a strong similarity to the very early Burzum demos/albums, which is something I always enjoy. The vocals are completely not my taste, though...
Marillion Fugazi
Good stuff! Maybe not really my taste (especially the vocals), but it was enjoyable! Pretty synths, and guitars. It is one of those albums I'd use as background music when some friends come over.
Marrasmieli Between Land And Sky
Nice folkish BM, and a pretty strong debut. The second half of the album was especially good (the songs: "Karakorum" and "The Ardent Passage"). I'm not the biggest fan of the production and the drumming though: the whole package sounds flat. Blast beats over blast beats with some extra blast beats, oh and the bass is barely audible - and probably programmed. But the rest is cool: great riffs, the folky stuff is alright, so definitely not bad.
Mayhem Pure Fucking Armageddon
Medieval Rites Epic Viking Battle
Not that epic, but still a nice bunch of medieval-inspired "battle" tracks.
Medieval Rites The Celtic Tavern
I expected more positive vibes. Not really tavern music...
Menace Ruine Cult of Ruins
Mercury Rev Yerself Is Steam
It was an interesting one. I'm not the greatest fan of it, because I didn't like especially the first half, and some of these songs were a bit too long for my taste. One other thing which lowered my final score is the vocals... too much false notes, man. The slower, mellow sections were pretty enjoyable though, and that made it a quite relaxing listen while working.
Metallica Beyond Magnetic
Mgla Age of Excuse
Well, this is: ... ... ... ... ... standard black metal.
MHOR Vichr v haluzích
Midnight Farewell to Hell
Heavy great riffs and all, but this is rather forgettable than revolutionary.
Mimico It's Dead
A greatly interesting debut EP, pretty diverse and has lots of interesting sounds - but it makes it hard to judge because there is a huge contrast between songs - and there is only 4 of them. I'm curious what comes next.
Misthyrming Algleymi
Moonless Nights Reaching for divinity
Morbus Chron Sweven
I have mixed emotions about this one: I liked half of the album (more or less), but the other half was basically boring or average. I think this is overrated.
Morketsvind Wandering to Nether World
Mors Certa The Ever​-​Turning Wheel
Mortiis The Song of a Long Forgotten Ghost
Mortuary Drape All the Witches Dance
Motorpsycho The All Is One
Muknal CN-22
Pretty standard blackened death metal.
Mullbeck The Boy And The Demon
It was alright, but projects like Fiendish Imp are far better in this style of dungeon synth.
Myrkur M
Myrkur Juniper
Mysticum Wintermass
Nahadoth The Trial of Oda Thahn / Dathonah's Prescription
Started really well, ended up pretty meh... shame.
Nameless Hero A Gothic Tale
Nargaroth Rasluka Part II
Nargaroth Prosatanica Shooting Angels
I'm not entirely satisfied with this release, but it has its moments. The title and song titles are horribly bad, and the lack of bass guitar is a bit distrurbing. However, the production is really pleasing for those who might be into the lo-fi aesthetics. Especially the guitars sound pretty good, and in some songs they sounded just as perfect like they'd be taken from the legendary Unholy Trinity - and that's quite an achievement. The tiny bit of industrial elements and additional sound samples are nice, but they feel a little bit forced and unnecessary, however the more ambient centred tracks sounded really great.
Necrot Mortal
It was good, but did not became my all time favourite death metal album. A bit samey.
Nocturnal Departure Cathartic Black Rituals
Not evil enough...
By the way, this is a solid raw (a bit punkish) black album. The slower/midtempo parts are
super massive, but as the tempo jumps up it becomes much less interesting and quite boring.
Nocturnal Effigy The Moonlit Branches of Powder
There are some good or interesting tunes in this album, but alltogether it was rather flat. However, I really liked the old-school production, he nailed that tone perfectly - it made me pleasantly sleepy.
Nocturnal Graves Titan
NONE Damp Chill of Life
Good as DSBM, very boring as atmoblack. The lower tempo, and the depressing mood is in the same vein with the genre's other artist (especially the US line) and works well, but on the other side... it really failed building an atmosphere: way too repetitive, and sounds thin and hollow. The album represents a specific mood, but I really couldn't dive into this, so basically most of the album just went by without delivering something extraordinary.
Nothing Dance On The Blacktop
Oh Bellissima The Light is Ever So Futile
Old Nick Flying Ointment
Somewhat nice (super) lo-fi black metal release. The toy keayboard here and there was a bit funny, but alltogether it was okay. Reminded me to the Satanic Warmaster demos.
Old Sorcery Dreams of the Old Kingdom
Old Tower Stellary Wisdom
Old Tower Seelenasche
Fairly safe output from Old Tower - I don't mind minimalism, but this was barely more than nothing... the atmosphere was awesome though.
Old Tower The Last Eidolon
"The Specter meticulously crafted his own style of medieval dark ambient." Pfff... The Specter should take back from his arrogancy, because this style is not original, and he wasn't the one who invented it... I'm not impressed, not at all. Usually, I really like this type of music, however 'The Last Eidolon' was a fairly lifeless album, and definitely not deserved the hype around it - one of the biggest disappointment of the year, tbh. I really liked the artwork, though.
Om Pilgrimage
Oranssi Pazuzu Mestarin Kynsi
After the first listen, well, I wasn't really hooked at all. On the second run though, I liked what I've heard, but especially from the third track. This is pretty, highly atmospheric, but I don't know, it didn't really grab me for some reason...
Order Of The Sacred Light Meditations in Lemuria
Orkenblut Mysteria Arkana, Bd. I
Ornatorpet Vid Ett Berg Uti En Dal
Ornatorpet Vid Himinsenda
Ozzy Osbourne The Ultimate Sin
Ozzy Osbourne Ordinary Man
The songs in the middle of the album are all really good jams, but the rest is below average. (Especially "Straight to Hell" and "It's A Raid" were extremly awful compared to the others.) The album is a very mixed bag, quality-wise. The title track, "Under the Graveyard" and "Eat Me" are showing Ozzy still got it and are outstandingly good, but on the other side most of the other songs are screaming the opposite: they're boring, and the enormous amount of auto-tuning makes them kinda irritating to listen to. I'm still giving a 3.0 to the album, because it is pretty strong output from a 71 old man and, as I mentioned, the songs in the middle are all great hits and personally I can see myself jamming those a lot in the future. Hats off, Prince of Darkness, and best wishes. Ozzy still rocks m/
Panopticon The Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness
Paramnesia Paramnesia
Paysage d'Hiver Kristall und Isa
Paysage d'Hiver Das Tor
Pelican What We All Come to Need
Pentagram When The Sreams Come
The bad recording quality really drags it down...
Pentagram (CL) The Malefice
It's good, kinda Slayer-ish death/trash album. It's heavy, has good riffs but it gets a bit samey after a while - at least, in my opinion. Otherwise the production is good, and I like the riff-centered approach and the old-school influences.
Pig Destroyer Prowler in the Yard
Poppy I Disagree
Post Malone Hollywood's Bleeding
Pretty bad lyrical expressions and the half of the songs are bloody awful. But the album has some great hits, songs which I pretty much enjoyed, so altogether it was good and definitely worth the time to listen to
this. And Ozzy is still killing it!!
Pumpkin Witch Hovel of the Pumpkin Witch
Quest Master The Twelve Castles
Radioactive Mausoleum Radioactive Mausoleum
Red Fang Whales and Leeches
Rem Poklade
Rings of Saturn Lugal Ki En
Runecaster The Sleeping Sword
The diversity in this release is outstanding: all the 12 song has its own sound and atmosphere! I greatly respect albums like this, because it really helps me to get into the artist's concept. I especially liked the slower and more droney songs, but each one is great and the kinda old-school sound is also very pleasing. Sadly, most of the songs are very short, and here and there feel a bit unpolished.
Sacred Son Sacred Son
Sadistik Exekution Fukk
Sanguine Eagle Storm Mysticism
Satanic Warmaster ...of the Night
Satanic Warmaster Black Katharsis
Satyricon Rebel Extravaganza
This is not bad, but far from their best works.
Satyricon Live At The Opera
Satyricon Deep Calleth Upon Deep
Scary Larry Sounds of Isolation
Scorpions Love At First Sting
Secret Shame Dark Synthetics
Sequestered Keep The Fortress in the Timeless Fog
Serpent Column Endless Detainment
Serpent Column Kathodos
It was interesting, but I think I enjoyed this one the least from the Serpent Column discog (so far). The noisier and wilder direction could have been great, but some songs were clearly "hit and miss" for me, and I felt indifferent about some others. It had some real slappers though, like 'Pathlessness' and 'Offering Tounges', but alltogether I don't think I'll jam this very often. And 'Desertification' was a very bad joke...
Serpent's Isle Legends of The Ancient Bay
Sickness (Finland) Nidus Diaboli
Sidereal Fortress Racconti Del Focolare
Siege Tower Siege Tower
Sielunvihollinen Ruhonkantaja
Skillet Unleashed
Slidhr The Futile Fires of Man
Slime Golem The Short But Touching Tale Of Slime Golem
It was a good concept album, with this swampy, hypnotic theme. But I can't say it is among of the best releases this year.
Sol Tenebra The Inevitable
Sombre Arcane Sombre Arcane (Demo)
Spectral Lore and Mare Cognitum Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine
Great continuation of their previous split, and I liked the improvement in the production. Otherwise, the album is an interesting cosmic BM piece, which has stronger (Venus, Jupiter) and not-really-good songs (Saturn, Uranus) as well. Personally I think the albums suffers from its length, because it gets a little samey after a while - even though each song has its own theme and melodies, but well... I simply felt some songs just went by.
Spectral Voice Eroded Corridors of Unbeing
Sperm Angel Life is Poison
Despite the most horrible band name... this EP is actually pretty good. A jammy mixture of black metal and heavy metal - with shireking vocals and rusty sound samples.
Splendorius Norfaragell​-​Thul
Stillness My Snow Princess
Stirge Stirge III
Stone Garden Existential Futility
Sumerlands Sumerlands
Sunken Totem Ox Eye
Sunn O))) Black One
Sunn O))) White1
Super Snake Leap of Love
Synthosaurus Dino War
Taake/Whoredom Rife Pakt
I did not know Whoredom Rife from eariler, so his side was new to me, but I'm impressed. The standard Taake song and the cover were very good, but alltogether it was a good listen for once and that's all.
Taur Nu Fuin The Mountain Path
Telepathic Moon Astral Elegance
Tempte Urðr
Thangorodrim Akallabêth
The 3rd Attempt Egocidal Path
The Beatles Please Please Me
The Crevices Below Below the Crevices
It's pretty, but not that exciting I hoped for. "Whispers Of Sorrow" is pretty cool, but it is also an example how annoying some additional vocals can be.
The IXth Key Dungeon
The IXth Key Moon
The Noisy Freaks The Sixth Sense
The Police Outlandos d'Amour
Not bad for a debut, but I didn't enjoy the first half of the album. Nor 'So Lonely' or 'Roxanne' are that really memorable.
The Rolling Stones Bridges to Babylon
This is good.
The Sorcerer (IT) Echoes of Distant Times
Toad Sage The Long Forgotten Realm
Interesting release, but I'm not that particularly hooked by it. It was sure fun listening while gaming, but I'm afraid that's all.
Torchlight Haunting Dreams for the Dying King
Torgeist Time Of Sabbath
Torgeist Devoted To Satan
Trvth Black Horse Plague
Uhtceare El Genocidio Primordial Llevará El Nombre Infinito
Ulcerate Stare Into Death and Be Still
(Shrines of Paralysis is still lot better.) I found the little bit more "melodic" sections the deepest, but overally this is a perfectly standard Ulcerate record. The enormous hype probably damaged and dampened my experience, because I think it's not worthy for the average score. Still a pretty heavy album, though.
Ulfberht Vikingr
This is not the best dungeon synth release of the year, but a very memorable one: full of samples from battle ambiances taken probably from movies and videogames, and interesting lo-fi synths which mostly focus on building an atmosphere rather than playing any melodies.
Ulver Nattens Madrigal
Ulver Blood Inside
Ulver A Quick Fix of Melancholy
Ulver Flowers of Evil
"Oh, a bad song. Oh a good song! Oh, another bad. Wait, another good!" [repeat this] To be honest, I'm somewhat disappointed, this wasn't *that* new I expected it to be, more like an Assassination B-side album...? It wasn't hard to sit through, but I don't feel I want to have this on an infinite replay. Last track was clearly my favourite - bringing back those Shadows Of The Sun vibes (for a short time) caught me totally off-guard.
Umbria Farwalker
Upyr The Four Seasons
Ur Pale Crystal Waves Orchestra
Urn Iron Will of Power
Ururdhagaz När Mörkret Tog Över Makten
Sounds awkwardly similar to Thangorodrim: both in sounds and melodies. I wouldn't mind it, if it would be similarly good as well, but this one sounds kind of "hollow" and less exciting... Not bad, but the comparison is unavoidable.
Utred Gothic
Valtyr Töframaðurinn og Mærin
It was a pretty good. Some serious Burzum-worshipping was going on here, which was mostly a pleasant and easy listening. However, nailing the Burzumish secret of nailing the repetitive and hypnotic magic doesn't work for all, and that was the case here: some songs became too samey. But I think there is a great potential in this project.
Vault Of Horror Chapter 1: Vintage Horror
Vindalv Æptir Pushende Ar demo
Vindkaldr Their Ships Sail from the Moon
Vindkaldr Sword Of Moss
Vomir Claustration
This is probably my weirdest rating I ever gave...
Voronmrak Battles of Winter Winds
Voronmrak Silver of Winter
Voslaarum Forgotten Vale
Voyages of the Old Oak Home
Very interesting album. Not exactly that medieval folk ambient I expected: this is much more: very unusual/odd songwriting, instruments and melodies. There are song which are like some folk metal programmed in MIDI(?), I'm not sure, except the fact that I liked this release.
Wall Painted Black Ache
Weeping Sores False Confession
West End Motel Don't Shiver, Your're A Winner
Windrikje ... Des Waldes Ruh
Wine Drinkers Warmth
winter woods Forest Of Mysterious Evil
winter woods Cavern Of Obscure Sacrifice
Wintercry Swords and Magic
Winterfylleth The Reckoning Dawn
It's okay. Tbh, 'In Darkness Begotten' was the only really memorable track here. The album is consistently alright, it worked nicely as a background album, but nothing really catched my attention. The production was nice, though.
Wintermoon (fin) Reh. Demo 1/1995
Wolfbrigade Run With The Hunted
Wolfsschrei Rise Dead Ember
Wolves in the Throne Room Two Hunters
Wolves in the Throne Room Malevolent Grain
Wolvhammer The Monuments of Ash and Bone
worms as blind as dirt worms as blind as dirt
Wulkanaz Wulkanaz
Wurdulac Dungeon Lord (demo)
Xathristis All Hope Has Vanished From This Heart
Xibalba Itzaes Ah Dzam Poop Ek
It was a cool BM album. Surprisingly good, to be honest!
Ygg Ygg
ZAUM Eidolon
Zeke Hellbender

2.5 average
A Wandering Spirit Lost And Forgotten
Abigail Williams Walk Beyond The Dark
Absolute Hell Rememberance
Agalloch The Mantle
Almofar C'est la Peste! Sauve Qui Peut!
Anfortas Far Below the City
Anthene Long Formations +4
Arcane Cavern Sorcery of Chaos
Arcane Hand Hohe Bäume
Arcturus My Angel
Arthuros Kosmos
This kinda bored me. Nice Depressive Silence aesthetics, but that's all.
Arvernien Plenilunio
Arxura Delving
Astrophobos Malice of Antiquity
At The Altar Of The Horned God Through Doors Of Moonlight
They forced this way too much... it has great ideas, but it has an extremly lame production, and most of the chantings etc. are just simply boring and not inspiring at all.
Attila Chaos
Aura Noir Aura Noire
Barak Tor Silent Passages And Hidden Realms
Bavingr Warrior Bard
Bavingr Bycirce
Berghof Fount of Life
Besatt Anticross
"Did I hear this before?" - this is not a bad album, but too boring to my taste.
Big Black Songs About Fucking
Black Brunswicker Hidden Amongst the Trees and Foothills
Black Mysterium Demo I
Blaze of Perdition The Harrowing of Hearts
Blogmal Blogmal
Blue-Ghost Coral Sea
Bogwitch A Tale of Vengeance
Borknagar True North
Bosque Cleansing
Lifeless and boring lo-fi funeral doom. Throwing a few good riffs into the bowl didn't work for me.
Bosse-de-Nage All Fours
Brendan Wells Plant Music The Right Side of the Grass
Sadly it was very disappointing. Half of the song sounded very flat and boring, and the rest is was just some lame Mort Garson-copies. Shame...
Brendan Wells Plant Music Music For People & Their Plants Vol 1
Candlemass Death Magic Doom
Candlemass The Door To Doom
Carach Angren Franckensteina Strataemontanus
Disappointment of the year. 'Franckensteina Strataemontanus' is the most forgettable Carach Angren record, which wasn't really interesting at all. Each song suffers from being too flat and uninspired, filled with terrbily out of place synth sections and the final result doesn't really feel "heavy" at all. There are some nice riffs here and there, but the overall songwriting is all over the place and the album feels very incoherent despite the clear concept - and that's very frustrating. Additionaly, even though the production is clear and nice, and the vocals are still very-very good, that awfully overcompressed drum sound ruins the listening experience, because it feels very negligent and uninspired, and that disturbingly bad "clicking" bass drum simply makes me mad...
Castillo Castillo
Celebdil The Tower
Chaucerian Myth Chaucerian Legends: The Epic of Beileag, Part I
Claire Cronin Big Dread Moon
Crypt Sermon The Ruins of Fading Light
Cult of Luna A Dawn to Fear
Dark Sanctuary Royaume Melancolique
Death Worship End Times
Deathspell Omega The Furnaces of Palingenesia
Departure Chandelier Antichrist Rise to Power
Destroyer 666 Call of the Wild
Dimmu Borgir Eonian
Diocletian Doom Cult
Dunkelbot Angerbach
Ecdelegost Old Souls
Ekud Tun Ekud Tun
Elador Drowned Dreams
Emma Ruth Rundle and Thou May Our Chambers Be Full
Dull sputcore stuff.
Enslaved Hordanes Land
Enslaved Nema
Erang Imagination Never Fails
Erang presents: "The Leftover Album". Personally I was disappointed, because I feel this lacks consistency, and feels way too random. I miss that charming atmosphere I know the genius behind this project could cast otherwise... Despite that, I liked this concept (and cover art), but it was more of a missed opportunity.
Erdstall Temple of Ancients
Erferis Hyena Queen
Etchings Wound Demo I
Fantavras Down Below
Feminazgul No Dawn for Men
The music itself is totally average, but the idea behind it is retarded. It's just waste of time... So it has everything be be worshipped on sput! (Avoid it at any cost!)
Flaekingur Fairy Tales
Fleurety A Darker Shade of Evil
Flughund Shimmering Figure Of The Black Lake
Foal Denu of Wind | Tome of Old Winter
Forest Temple Twilight Within The Ancient Wood
Forgotten Passage Demo
Forlorn Kingdom Distant Apparitions
Some good ideas, and I liked the lo-fi aesthetics, but every song gets very boring after a few minutes.
Fraudort Dark Dungeon
Fulador The Realm of the Great River
Gaerea Limbo
"Gaerea challenges the archetype of black metal" Pffff, my ass. Just throwing some post-metal into their sound doesn't revolutionize anything. This album is a simply boring and forgettable.
Garadrak A Questing Knight
Gatewatcher Blind Eternities
Ghost (SWE) Prequelle
Glistening #37 'Dying'
Glistening #36 'Fragments'
Gondar Sword of Gondar
Grelin Greenclan Grelin Greenclan
Gronoc Sanctuary Chronicles vol. 1
Grot Donker
Haemorrhage We Are the Gore
Harrod and Funck Live
Hexengrab Schrei der Sirenen
Hiemal Siberian Horizons
Hiemal L'Exil
Hiemal The Illusion of Permanence
Hoppo Frogs & Diamonds
Horna Aania Yossa
The only Horna album which didn't reach my expectations. It was simply forgettable, and too generic. Some tasty riffs flashed here and there, but otherwise it was a rather unsuccesful release for me.
Horrendous Idol
Illuminator In Ictu Oculi
Ilsa Corpse Fortress
Impaled Nazarene Latex Cult
It's very far from their greatest, and this album suffers from the low production (however, the bass still sounds pretty cool), and being too samey.
Inoriand Howling Wind
Inoriand Frozen Memories
Inoriand Wintermagick
Inoriand Bringer Of Cold Winter
Inoriand Dwelling In Frost
Inoriand Winteridyll
Inoriand Till The Winter Comes Again
Integrity/Krieg Split
Jared Hart Past Lives & Pass Lines
Kalmankantaja Nostalgia I: Bones And Dust
Keygard Arboreal Swamp
Keys of Orthanc Unfinished Conquests
I greatly respect Dorgul's work in black metal, but honestly this dungeon synth album is not even close to the first LPs... uneventful, hella lot and boring percussions and pretty samey songs. I'm disappointed.
Klaneth Liberate The Moles
Knife Wizard Dark Mountain Peaks
Knight of Pluto Chamomile
Kommand (USA-WA) Savage Overkill
Korhadt demo 1
Kroda Навій схрон
Kvelertak Nattesferd
Lamp of Murmuur Thunder Vigil and Ecstasy
Lares Towards Nothingness
Soundwise, this is the "most-2020-metal-album". The space theme is cool, otherwise this bored me.
Le Code White
Linarian Sigil Promo 2020
Lord Einsamkeit Ancient Oak
Lord Einsamkeit Ancient Oak Part II
Lord Moth Demo I
Loth Apocryphe
Magusai Roy Bowers Servitor Magusai Roy Bowers Servitor
This ambient albums is not bad, and the "average" word it totally inaccurate for describing this album - for me, it was just a mixed bag of ideas and sounds, I liked some parts and I didn't others...
Marblebog Csendhajnal
Marilyn Manson Heaven Upside Down
Matt Elliott Farewell to All We Know
Oh no... the vocals ruined the whole thing for me :[ Otherwise it would be very nice acoustic album with nice production. But damn, I really hated the vocals...
Mayhem Deathrehearsal
Medieval Rites Attila the Hun
Megadeth United Abominations
Megadeth Super Collider
Mesarthim The Density Parameter
Metallica Live at Grimey's
Metallica Six Feet Down Under Part II
Metallica S&M2
Tbh, this sounds pretty good without Metallica. It's good for one listen, but it is the most unnecessary release of 2020.
Mgla Exercises in Futility
Moongates Guardian Cold Waters Of Anduin
Mora Prokaza By Chance
One of the weirdest albums of 2020... This is like a crazy mixture of black metal, hip-hop and trap music - and the result is something like a blackened Igorrr. It kinda riffs, but the electronic elements are more vibrant, and the vocals are the most dominant - which sounds very odd: super fast BM vocals and some clean lines here and there, but it is not that good, tbh. Bonus points for the "shock value".
Mortiis Spirit of Rebellion
High hopes - big disappointment. Come on Mortiis, that's all...?
Mountain Warlock Malefic Wizardy
Mutiilation Majestas Leprosus
Nargaroth Jahreszeiten
Natasakaa EP01
It was alright, but it was too short and the lack of vocals did not work for me.
Nifelheim Nifelheim
No... In an Illusion of Happiness
Nocturnal Depression Four Seasons to a Depression
Nodding God In A Foreign LandScape
Numenorean Adore
OLD (US) It's Called Murder
Ondal's Wisdom The Forbidden Lore of Arcane Magic
This is not going anywhere... I like the synth sounds, but I believe I miss something. *sad noises*
Ostrogoth Feelings of Fury
It could have been a pretty nice album, but the extremly generic and forced vocals ruined the whole thing for me... the riffs couldn't balance that out...
Outer Heaven Realms Of Eternal Decay
Pafund Til rigets ende
Pagan Spell Demo MMXIX
Pale Knight Heathen Kings
Pallid Bloom / Withering Presence Their Verdant Reclamation
Pepper Proud Water
Peter Laws The Lonely Tower
Primitive Man Immersion
*fuzz* *beat* AUHGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH [repeat] Sorry, but it was a nope for me.
Pulling Teeth Vicious Skin
Puritas Virginum Black Arts
Quin of the North True Might
I have an odd feeling I've already heard most of these songs somewhere... Are the half of the songs transported from an church's song book to MIDI? It was okay with Krampusnacht, but it is a nope for me. The rest is fine, but nothing outstanding.
RaevJager Raevult!
Revenge (CAN) Triumph.Genocide.Antichrist
"My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined."
Rhinocervs RH-08
Rings of Saturn Gidim
Way better than 'Ultu Ulla' was, some great ideas here and there, otherwise sadly this album tends to be boring. Basically 10 song of "guitar flexing". The last instrumental track is still very great, as usual.
Rowen Ashen Spirit
This is somehow terrible and somehow amazing at the same time...
Sarcofago I.N.R.I.
Sargeist Satanic Black Devotion
It was disappointing.
Satanic Warmaster Luciferian Torches
Satyricon Megiddo
The only real interesting one on the EP is the first song, 'The Dawn of a New Age', which sound like something Ulver would do: weird noises, trancey beats, odd vocals and experimental synths... it's a pretty exciting song! The rest is very forgettable.
Satyricon All Evil
Scary Larry Demo 1
Schammasch Hearts of No Light
Shelter Ov Shadows Within the Halls of Oblivion
Shining (SWE) Submit to Selfdestruction
Sidereal Fortress Bogatyr
Sidereal Fortress Odissea
"...one of the best dungeon synth releases in recent memory" according to the Bandcamp Daily, August 2019.
LOL and hell no. Extremely average.
Sidereal Fortress Advanced Steel
It was simply boring and some track were really annoying.
Skogsguud The Spirit of a Thousand Lakes
Sojourner The Shadowed Road
Sol Peregrin The Inevitable
The atmosphere was pretty nice, and I liked the overall melancholic mood, however the solos were disturbingly bad... terrible, so it really dragged down my general rating.
Solefald The Linear Scaffold
Solus Ritual Solus Ritual
Sorry... Failure Years of Neglect Apathy
Spirit Adrift Angel & Abyss Redux EP
It's alright, a chill little jam - however, it couldn't deliver much more...
Spirit Of The Old Wood Spirit Of The Old Wood
Sturmgeist Meister Mephisto
Stygiofilia Barren Crops of Heavenly Deception
Sunn O))) Kannon
Svartar N/A
Talog Objava Sablasne Tiranije
Talog Drakulin Sud
I guess this is an official soundtrack for a vampyric crypt.
Talog Ona Kojoj Tama Se Klanja
Tamas Madhyandina 1
Tau Cross A Pillar Of Fire
Telaestheticist Roter Tod
Temple of the Fractured Light Psychadelic Witchcraft (And the Groovy Occult)
Interesting psychedelic ambient album, but sadly like the half of the songs were very uninteresting and "hollow". The synths sounded very sweet though, so I believe this project has a great potential but it definitely needs some polishing to make it more interesting. And bonus points for the cover art, I love it.
Terrortron Orgy of the Vampires (Original Soundtrack Recordin
Thangorodrim Dagor Bragalloch
Tharmazegethuzan Revelations Of The Necroglyph
The Atlas Ghost Silent Hill
The Motion Mosaic Avant-Garbage
Dry.
The Oscillation Droneweapon
The Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet
Damn, it was probably the worst Stones record I've ever heard. What's this average score...?
The Skaldic Fungi Apparition Parallel Realm and Deeds of Ethereal Heroism
Theodor Die Prinzessin und der Troll
Theory of a Deadman Savages
Thorgnyr Depths
Thou Heathen
It was building up slowly, until reached "Clarity", but right after that song it went downhill very fast... and the album's length was terrible.
Thou Magus
Throne of the Ice Goblin Descending Into Black Hypnosis Through the Ritual
Tiny Mouse The happiest mouse alive
Tomhet (SWE) Tomhet
Tool Fear Inoculum
Tsjuder Throne of the Goat
Uada Cult of a Dying Sun
Unholy Vampyric Slaughter Sect Canticle Bound In Spirit-Faith In Vampyric Blood
This is some very divisive stuff: mostly I hate it, but: the ambient part in the middle is something I enjoyed a lot. Otherwise I don't get noise music at all...
Valar The Arrival Of The Dragonlord
Valtyr Draumar Baldurs
It was alright, but every second song felt painfully long. However, the overall sound is pretty nice, but it became boring and cutting those songs shorter could have been lot better...
Vanha Melancholia
Vermicide Violence The Praxis of Prophylaxis
Vindicator Dog Beneath the Skin
Nice speed metal comp. album. Even though the music itself wasn't that really exciting, but listening to songs in different "settings" (studio-demo-live) is kinda cool.
Vindkaldr Stone as Flesh
Voronmrak Glares
Vrorsaath Moonlight's Wrath
Wallows Spring
Watain Trident Wolf Eclipse
Winterblood (IT) Foresta impenetrabile
Winterhearth (US) Beneath the Stars
Not bad, but due to the super short length it is hard to really get into this one. But I see potential in this project.
Wolves in the Throne Room Black Cascade
Wyldpfad 1931
Xanthochroid Of Erthe and Axen: Act II
Xasthur Defective Epitaph
Xavlegbmaofffassssit.... Gore
Xuthal The Reclusive Dynasty

2.0 poor
Aindulmedir The Lunar Lexicon
I understand what was the main goal of this album, but the result is extremly boring.
Akercocke Rape of The Bastard Nazerene
Alice Boman Dream On
She wasn't even trying to sound any original or interesting.
Arvernien La Espada de Marak
Very-very repetitive and overused VST sounds. Nah.
Arxura The Sylvan Specter
Bathory Destroyer of Worlds
Behemoth A Forest
Beherit H418ov21.C
Beorn's Hall In His Granite Realm
After Estuary, they went downhills with this. Huge disappointment.
Billie Eilish dont smile at me
Bitter Old Wizard Southern Grim
Blink-182 California
Bring Me the Horizon Amo
Calderum Calderum
Cineastre Auwald
This could have been a pretty good album: nice Kveldssanger vibes and sweet folk instrumentation, but the vocals and samples are terribly annoying...
Cloister Garth Memories from a portal
I don't know what's worse: the overused and boring VSTs or the lame "experimental" songwriting... at least the black metal vocals in the end are superb.
Darkthrone Goatlord
Despondent Gaze Wish
Dungeons of Irithyll The Dire Pass...
Boring. I get it, it is Dark Souls-inspired, but sadly the album couldn't offer anything more than that...
Eishalle Alone
Emperor Call From the Grave
Empty (ESP) Vacío
Fallujah Undying Light
Finsternis Kloster der Verwüstung
Flesh Consumed Mutilate, Eviscerate, Decapitate
Folter The Aeon Of The Disembodied
Freshwater Serpent Demo MMXX
Haken Vector
Haudh Through Forgotten Lands
Hiemal Hyperborean Rituals
Hiemal Celestial Odyssey
Space ambient does not fit to this project at all...
Hobbit Leaving the Shire (demo)
Horna Kun Synkkä Ikuisuus Avautuu
What the hell is this? It sounds like a totally different below average band... I'll pretend this never existed.
Immortal Immortal (Demo)
In Autumnus Intrusiveless
Jess Williamson Sorceress
Jinjer Micro
Klaaromtesterven Psychological Pain
Krallice Go Be Forgotten
Lingua Ignota Caligula
Longsword Longsword II
Lord Rashnak Castle Of The Nameless King
Lore Liege A Break In A Harsh Storm
Machine Head The Blackening
Majesty of Oceans The Pelagic Eternal Light
Mayhem Ordo ad Chao
Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell
Metallica Some Kind of Monster
Metallica The Unnamed Feeling
Metallica Freeze 'Em All: Live in Antarctica
James forgot how to sing, Kirk couldn't even do a decent solo, Rob choosed the poorest distortion
pedal ever, and Lars...well, he was just the usual. It might have been awesome to be there, but
listening now was almost painful. Plus, missing the opportunity to play "Trapped Under Ice" is
super lame.
Nargaroth Semper Fidelis
OLD (US) Campsite
Powerwolf The Sacrament Of Sin
Psyclopean The Outsider
Pumpkin Witch Final Strike of the Pumpkin Witch
At least there are few decent songs next to the awfully bad ones...
Redig Narrow Gate
Rings of Saturn Ultu Ulla
Satanic Warmaster Gas Chamber (Rehearsal Demo)
Satyricon Satyricon
Did Sigurd let his kids write this album or what? Just a few tracks have real punch ('Walker Upon The Wind' has some sweet riffs though for example), but songs like 'Trog og Kraft' are extremly disappointing. With 1.5x playback speed, the album sounds twice better than otherwise... The only really good song is (the probably filler) 'Natt', which has a beautifully melancholc and catchy melody...
Shahin Souri About This Time
Very unpleasant drone-ambient piece. Even though it has interesting textures, I couldn't even finish it, it was so frustrating to listen to this.
Slipknot We Are Not Your Kind
Sonnov Goqzo
Source Vibrations Vibrational Growth for Plants
I somewhat doubt the efficiency of the intent behind this project, but one thing is for sure: this is very flat and boring.
Svart Solace A Night at the Spire
Snoozefest.
Taake Manndaudsvinter
Tauregorath The High King of Azurreich
Taylor Swift Folklore
This is not folk? Dammit. At least she could have wrote the music by herself...
The Bloody Nun No Sleep 'til Walpurgis
The Darkness Easter Is Cancelled
The True Werwolf Winternight - Demo VIII
Them The Angry Young Them
This Gift Is A Curse A Throne of Ash
Toby Driver and Nick Hudson Black Feather Under Your Tongue
Very forgettable experimental stuff. Started pretty well, but the the vocals killed the whole thing: I didn't feel the harmony between them and the instrumentation, and they were kinda forced. The idea was great though, but the result wasn't really impressive.
Trelldom Til et Annet...
Uniform and The Body Everything That Dies Someday Comes Back
Uppsalan Temple Shrine of the Elements
Vaelastrasz Hope's End
Vaelastrasz The Faint Whispers of Sinister Squashlings
Venom Storm The Gates
Wartoad Wrath of the Mighty Wartoad
Winterblood (IT) Silenzio ghiacciato
Wizards of the Ivory Library Return My Body to the Ocean
Ye Banished Privateers Hostis Humanis Generis
Very uninteresting folk album about pirates, and basically that's all. The dialoges and "field recordings" are super awkward - I get it they wanted to make this sound cinematic, but it felt more of a bad joke than something I'd want to dig. But the album itself is not horrible or anything, just very uninteresting - something what anyone could record by hiring a few drunken guys from an Irish pub. In my opinion, an album should stand well on its own without any visuals - but in this case it was an epic fail... maybe it would make a decent soundtrack for a pirate movie, but otherwise just: nah.

1.5 very poor
American Pleasure Club Fucking Bliss
BABYMETAL Metal Galaxy
Block knight Block knight I
Carreghud Dungeon Tales
Cherubs Immaculada High
Disgusting Cathedral Adventurers Despised and Rejected
"Let's record some lo-fi mess and call it a day". Despite this release it has some interesting tracks which worth to give a listen, the overall package is terribly weak.
Dystopian Present The Legend of Mr. Pumpkin
Eternal Night Abandoned by Hope, Embraced by Night
Gorillaz Humanz
Grandeburgo XIV
Hiemal Solivagant Ghost of Cimmerian Woods
Katie Shlon Play some songs to make the plants grow
Despite there is a great idea behind this, the album sounds terribly amateurish...
Lana Del Rey Lust For Life
Linkin Park One More Light
Lothringen Penance and Spear
That's how do NOT make old-school dungeon synth.
Markarth Am Main Der Letzte Kreuzzug
Marsyas Zskin Echo and Narcissus
There is a few good tracks in this one, but the most of it sounds just like some randomly sequenced nonsense.
Metallica Six Feet Down Under
Moss Golem The Woods of Galdura
Serpent?s Sword Records nowadays just puts out the same stuff under different names...and gets away with it. Awful vocals also.
Poison Path *YOU'VE BEEN POISONED*
Pumpkin Witch In the Frightful Gaze of the Pumpkin Witch
All the hype for this? I barely could enjoy a few songs.
Schatten Des Monds Blady sen
*lo-fi noise intensifies* The album offers nothing just loud lo-fi wind, rain, and other noises while someone playing major keys only on a synth. Zero progression and annoying mimicry of the old-school. Pathetic.
Stirge Malarian Winds
Talog Vladavina Vampira
The Audient Void Dying Flesh In Immortal Shape
This could have been somewhat good, but due to the poor mix (f.e. way too much reverb) and the unbearably awful vocals it was a disaster.
Troghetstillstand Winter Mist
Ulver Rehearsal Room 1993
Von Satanic Blood (demo)
It is simply terrible.

1.0 awful
Automatonus Among the Ruins of the Basilica of Saint Synthetic
Billie Eilish When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Bring Me the Horizon Music to Listen to...
Music to listen to... *pukes all over this* Great example of lifeless plaza pop music. *pukes again*
Castle Ov Yester Echoes From Hobgoblin Ha'
Cetati dacice din Munzii Orastiei The Seventh Obsidian Fortress...
Two kids made some extremly low-effort recording with a toy piano. And the whole process took maybe 20 minutes from start to finish.
Dark Sarah Grim
Draughash The Solar Order
One of the worst DS releases I've ever heard. Waste of time.
Epimetrius Mortal Feet had not Traversed...
Greta Van Fleet Anthem of the Peaceful Army
Himmelriket Guds Trone I Himmelen
Okay, this is just lolbad, hahaha. Randomly hitting single notes and playing with the pitch button ain't any good...
Liturgy H.A.Q.Q.
If this supposed to be revolutionary and the future of black metal then I'll quit. "HAJJ" almost made me cry how awful it is...
Liturgy Origin of the Alimonies
Waste of time. Ngl, the intro was kinda alright, but the rest... *painful* waste of time. Congratulations, the worst album and album cover of the year (so far)!
Longsword Longsword III
Nekrohobbit Bastard Sword
New Years Day Unbreakable
OLD (US) Gross
Slayyyter Slayyyter
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