Rites to Sedition - Ancestral Blood

Artist: Rites to Sedition
Release Title: Ancestral Blood
Year: 2017
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Waveform 66
2. The Moon Titan Phylon
3. Echelons of Imposition
4. Ancestral Blood
5. Sorcerers of Atlantis
6. Wartide
7. The Soul-Mind Catechism
8. The Golden Aeon of Saturnia

Formed just in 2014, North Carolina-based melodic black metallers Rites to Sedition have taken their influence from the old-school melodic black metal scene to craft an ambitious effort upon the origins of man and his epic quest to overcome occult mysteries. Dropping to a four-piece before recording as Gabriel Lucia took over vocal duties from original vocalist Brian Kingsland, their self-released debut album was released March 29, 2017.

From the beginning, this one comes complete with a stellar series of influences and musicianship that positions them immediately into the genre’s upper echelons. This is mainly built around the utterly phenomenal riff-work present, featuring plenty of thrilling tremolo patterns full of fiery rhythms and a multitude of tempo changes that allows this one to generate a slew of exciting rhythms. By adding in a technicality to these riffs alongside the ability to utilize the grandiose soundscapes throughout here, this manages to acquire a feeling of explosive icy black metal riffing that develops a variety of tempos and patterns throughout here as the vast array of exceptionally glorious rhythms throughout here which help to make the melodic leads all the more impressive. Running over furious tempos as well as plodding mid-paced efforts makes a huge impact on their rhythms by enabling this one to readily shift focus into the varying tempos and not lose any sense of power or grandeur in the attack, making this a spectacular showing that’s able to generate these varying moods and atmospheres here. If you’re into picking for flaws of the album, this one does tend to feel it’s length with the fact that the tracks here really get up there in length and that does make this feel somewhat of a drag as it goes on. However, it’s still not all that detrimental an effort.

With just the most minor of barely-detrimental issues cropping up throughout this one, there’s plenty to absolutely enjoy about this one as there are so many enjoyable and surprising elements to be found here that this makes for an easy recommend for fans looking for melodic or symphonic-heavy black metal.

Score: 95/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://ritestosedition.bandcamp.com/album/ancestral-blood

Demonic Slaughter - Haunted

Artist: Demonic Slaughter
Release Title: Haunted
Year: 2014
Label: Pagan Records
Genre: Old-School Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Pit of Coffins
2. Mystic Rites
3. Psalm of Mist
4. Haunted
5. Madness and Astral Emanations
6. Monks of Cold Mountains
7. Żałobna procesja (Mournful Procession)
8. Wyklęty (The Wretched)
9. Death’s Creek

Furthering their connection to the old-school, Polish black metallers Demonic Slaughter have settled into a solid reputation for not only their boundless proficiency but also their dedication to writing and recording material in the traditional old-school manners. With drummer Nuklear Kriss departing in favor of new drummer Opium, the group’s fifth full-length was originally released December 10, 2014 on Pagan Records.

As has been the bands’ penchant from the beginning, this here offers up a non-stop assault of traditional Norwegian-styled black metal without much deviation. This one tends to revolve around simplistic tremolo riffing and straightforward rhythms that charge forward without altering themselves or changing up the stylistic charge here with these being placed alongside harmonic melodies and choppy drumming. This is a mostly continuous assault here that’s unwavering in it’s charge with these elements being brought to bear on the tracks without exception, and these find melodies featured throughout here are really where the majority of the album is taken up by the solid infusion of those melodies running nicely alongside the plodding tempos. When it gets to the more charging sections, this change in tempo and aggression leads to some more engaging efforts alongside the pronounced melodic efforts featured here, though these are still dominated by the melodic mindset for the most part. That is the album’s one weakness here with the rather sluggish, driving rhythms not really generating much energy or fiery rhythms which tends to make for a somewhat bland overall impression here that tends to feature the band going through the same overdrawn, bland rhythms for the most part. It’s not entirely detrimental as the melodies are engaging enough, but this one really could’ve used some extra fire.

Though it’s somewhat hampered by the fact that there are some rather bland and somewhat lifeless melodies brought to bear on the album as a whole, this one still emerges with enough positives from the melodic atmosphere and old-school rhythms to give this one some appeal to the most devout old-school black metal aficionado only.

Score: 78/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:

https://paganrecords.bandcamp.com/album/haunted

Infernal Angels - Ars Goetia

Artist: Infernal Angels
Release Title: Ars Goetia
Year: 2017
Label: My Kingdom Music
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Amdusias: The Sound of Hell
2. Vine: Destroyer of the World
3. Asmoday: The Impure Archangel
4. Purson: Matter and Spirit
5. Bael: The Fire Devour Their Flesh
6. Paimon: The Secret of Mind
7. Balam: Under Light and Torment
8. Zagan: The Alchemist
9. Belial: The Deceiver
10. Beleth: Lord of Chaos and Spirals

Continuing to usher their own devastating sound, Italian melodic black metallers Infernal Angels feature plenty of glimpses of pure aggression that are blended into parts of mournful, disturbing sonic extremity with sudden melodic grafts throughout here. Featuring several great guests on the album, the groups’ fourth overall full-length was released January 20th, 2017 on My Kingdom Music.

Once this one gets going, there’s plenty of fiery and ferocious music throughout here that continues to showcase the band at the top of their game. The album is based mostly on tight, ferocious tremolo riffing that produces a strong, thunderous base for the rest of the music to offer the frantic tempos and patterns featured throughout here. Generating plenty of intensity with the blistering drumming while remaining firmly aware of the tight, frantic buzzing melodies blazing alongside the raging music featured here, and overall there’s a solid amount of work displayed here that makes for a wholly enjoyable time. The one main problem with this one arrives in the fact that there’s just not a whole lot of deviation in the music which has a ton of opportunities to express any kind of variance here yet it doesn’t really offer that here. It’s all pretty much the same general buzzing tremolo melodies and rather tight, same-sounding rhythms for the most part, and that does tend to lower the impact of the album when it’s almost impossible to figure out where on the album you are. However, this isn’t that detrimental as there’s still a lot to like here.

While there’s plenty to like here with this one getting some rather enjoyable melodies alongside the striking black metal elements here, the minor flaws do lower this one somewhat slightly so that it appeals really only for those who enjoy this brand of melodic black metal or fans of the bands’ previous work.

Score: 85/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://infernalangels.bandcamp.com/album/ars-goetia

Arcane Existence - The Dark Curse

Artist: Arcane Existence
Release Title: The Dark Curse
Year: 2017
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Melodic Black/Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Welcome to Storybrooke
2. The Dark One
3. Reshaping History
4. Magic
5. Bleeding Through
6. Somnumbra Atra
7. A Land Without Magic
8. Excalibur
9. To the Underworld
10. The Dark One (Dungeon Delver Edition)

Formed just in 2016, California-based melodic black/death metallers Arcane Existence have been taking their influences and running it through the deep lows and emotional highs as they adapt a storyline involving the TV show ‘Once Upon a Time.’ As the three-piece offering version of the band continues to expand and grow, the groups’ full-length debut was self-released January 6, 2017.

From the beginning, the group displays a rather adept and profound mixture of stylish symphonic elements within the melodic black/death realm. The fiery tremolo riffing is generally tight and up-tempo, raging along with a galloping pace which generates a rather fun and frantic charge here while engaging the blistering symphonics here. That is far more impactful throughout the album, going for grandiose elements that are far more dynamic than the majority of the riff-work featured here not only in terms of featuring the melodic flurries but also focusing on the massive orchestral sounds when placed alongside these engaging tremolo patterns. With the symphonics blaring along, it ends up gaining more steam along the way with the harmonies female vocals which help to greatly offset the vicious growling and deeper rhythms here and adding yet another solid melodic showcase for the band which makes for a wholly enjoyable offering overall. It does run into some minor problems here where it seems to really drop the intensity level of the arrangements around the female vocals which tend to approach Gothic style arrangements that are wholly underwhelming and take the sting out of the attack considerably as they don’t really sound close to the previous blackened arrangements. It’s something that can be ironed out over time, and being a debut this isn’t something to hold over them anyway.

Despite a few minor issues here and there that don’t really settle themselves quite easily, the fact that the over-the-top symphonic elements and melodic harmonies work so well alongside the fiery up-tempo work throughout here makes for a solid choice for fans of this kind of style or those into the melodic black/death metal style.

Score: 82/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://arcaneexistence.bandcamp.com/

Hyperion (Swe) - Seraphical Euphony

Artist: Hyperion (Swe)
Release Title: Seraphical Euphony
Year: 2016
Label: Black Lion Productions
Genre: Melodic Black/Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Remnants of the Fallen
2. Novus Ordo Seclorum
3. Flagellum Dei
4. Seraphical Euphony
5. Moral Evasion
6. Primal Cosmic Ascendancy
7. Zephyr of Grace
8. Empyrean Yearning
9. Blood of the Ancients

Formed in late 2007, the Swedish melodic black/death metal outfit utilizing Hyperion have always been quite adept at featuring their old-school black and metal influences carried through their ancestral country-mates that cultivated their sound in the early 90s. With the group rounded out to a sextet with the addition of third guitarist Joel Hagroth, this sophomore album was originally released February 6, 2016 on Black Lion Records.

Once the album gets going, it’s really easy to see where the band has taken its influences from as there’s a rather obvious attack surging throughout here. This one goes for a pronounced and distinctive element of striking tremolo-pitched riffing and deep, swirling chugging, giving this the atmospheric and blistering take founded in the early days of the genre where the sparkling melodic leads over the thumping patterns created a heavy and yet still highly melodic attack. Given that majority of the album utilizes these efforts to oftentimes epic stature here, it’s all nicely balanced out by the fine addition of more relaxed, charging mid-tempo paces which go for a streamlined, swirling tremolo attack and sterling keyboard work which carries this one along into the melodic realm rather than the faster, more frantic efforts which is quite appealing. This dueling approach gives it a fine mixture of both charging, fiery intensity as well as breath-taking melodic interjections featured alongside each other, and the end result is inherently dynamic and well-crafted material. This does result in several tracks where it really feels it’s length and the epic quality does run against it, though since it’s a rare occurrence this isn’t all too detrimental and doesn’t really hold this one back all that much.

Without a whole lot of really big, detrimental issues to be found here, the fact that this one comes out of the gate with such a strong, impressive attack makes this a worthwhile act to follow in the future and is heartily recommended for all fans of the old-school melodic black/death sound or melodic black metal in general.

Score: 92/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://hyperionblacklion.bandcamp.com/album/seraphical-euphony

Wormlight - Bloodfields EP

Artist: Wormlight
Release Title: Bloodfields EP
Year: 2016
Label: Self-Released/Independent (Black Lion Productions reissue)
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Wormlight
2. Pitch Black Hatred
3. Towards Impious Domination
4. The Bloodfields

Reissue Tracklisting:
1. Wormlight
2. Pitch Black Hatred
3. Towards Impious Domination
4. The Bloodfields
5. Wormlight (Rerecorded Version)
6. The Bloodfields (Rerecorded Version)

Carrying on from Unhallowed, Swedish black metallers Wormlight have charged forth after the name-change into the current moniker as the band continues to explore the same general sound within the new format. With a lineup overhaul that sees founder Deafeathered leave only to be replaced by Tiamat Invictuz who then took up guitar duties from a departing Nordlyst, the group’s new EP was originally self-released April 10, 2015 with a reissue December 3, 2016 on Black Lion Productions that sees bonus tracks with Invictuz on vocals added on.

Despite the name change, what’s on display here is still classic-era melodic black metal featuring all the aggression and intensity normally found within the scene. Full of galloping tremolo riffing that adds that characteristic darkened hellfire sound to the whole overall atmosphere, furious pounding drum work that is simply unrelenting and carrying through a truly explosive series of paces throughout here, the basic unrelenting charge offered here is quite the impressive burst of traditional black metal yet still manages to contain plenty of melodic accents. Churning away with a steady gallop throughout the rhythms by switching up the overall sound away from the raging tempos into a more straightforward attack that’s much more in league with the classic melodic black metal as the bands’ ability to switch-up these styles gives this a strong dynamic and variety that’s quite impressive and enjoyable. On the whole, this doesn’t leave much to dislike here as the band is quite adept at this style for the most part without really employing all that many flaws present.

As a fully explosive and generally appealing mixture of furious black metal rhythms with choice melodic accents interwoven throughout here and not really generating a lot of dislikes, this is quite the appealing package for those looking for quality melodic black metal or those appreciate high-quality extreme metal.

Score: 90/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://wormlightsweblacklion.bandcamp.com/album/bloodfields

Vinterbris - Solace

Artist: Vinterbris
Release Title: Solace
Year: 2014 (2016 re-issue)
Label: Nordavind Records (Triton's Orbit re-issue)
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Dysphoria
2. Ash Alight
3. Fathoms
4. The Aurora of Despair
5. Gazing at a Fallen Sky
6. Euphoria

Following up the acclaim of their debut release, Norwegian melodic black metal band Vinterbris have quickly risen up the ranks of the scene and their homeland’s greatest genre acts that’s all culminated in one of their finest releases yet. Being the last release with original guitarist Richard Hemre Dahle before being replaced by Fran Ramirez, the group’s second full-length was originally released June 16, 2014 on Nordavind Records before a vinyl reissue September 16, 2016 on Triton’s Orbit.

This here is quite an impressive assault which manages to round itself out into numerous rather appealing facades. The most impressive is the fact that this one drags itself through highly-melodic and enjoyable riffing that still retains the fiery tremolo-picked style in the frantic up-tempo realms while still generating plenty of harmonious leads that makes this all the more imposing. By dropping the tempo down in the middle of the tracks for extended segments of melodic atmospheres that are wrapped in completely furious patterns, it creates an enhanced level of harmonic nature by balancing the extremely aggressive traditional black metal fire with strong melodic moments, and given that there’s plenty of truly ferocious moments still within this one makes for a rather impressive blitz. Even the other additional elements present here, from the more pronounced technical riffing which gives this one a much more dynamic series of rhythms while letting it simply blast away on it’s other riffing patterns and bringing in some acoustic instrumentation to accompany the melody lines throughout here give this one much more to like in the bands’ overall attack. Though this makes for a generally enjoyable time, this still has a minor issue in the fact that there’s just not a whole lot of time here to get acclimated to the bands’ approach. It really feels quite short-changed here even with the rather overlong and fully-loaded rhythms that are apart of the multi-faceted tracks here which is quite an odd feeling but it does become prominent enough to get noticed. Otherwise, this one has plenty to like here.

Though it’s a bit rushed yet seems a little overlong which is a rather unusual facet, the fact that there’s still a large amount of quality work displayed here with the strong riff-work and utterly impressive melodies that are prominently featured here makes this a strong effort for those into the more melodic black metal sound.

Score: 95/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://www.tritonsorbit.com/collections/releases/products/vinterbris-solace-slipcase-edition

Aka Funeral - Stormy Tide

Artist: Aka Funeral
Release Title: Stormy Tide
Year: 2016
Label: Self-Released/Independent (Sepulchral Silence re-issue)
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Stormy Tide
2. Faceless
3. The Eternal Hourglass of Existence
4. Ecce Homo
5. Forged in Fire
6. Frozen Path
7. Narrow Soul's

Formed in 2014 in Belo Horizonte, Brazilian black metal trio Aka Funeral have quickly risen from the underground after a year of writing and rehearsing that has brought out the bands’ first compositions in a very grand style. Completed earlier in the year and initially independently released June 16, 2016 the effort was eventually re-issued June 27, 2016 on Sepulchral Silence.

For the most part this is a pretty simplistic and savage offering that’s mostly centered around up-tempo rhythms filled with plenty of melodic riffing alongside these patterns. The trinkling tremolo-picked main rhythms here give this one plenty of swirling patterns played at rather frantic tempos to off-set those melodies, and with the benefit of much more jangly riff-work and blasting drumming along these patterns it gives this a rather traditional second-wave approach before being furthered by the tortured rhythms and frantic charging blasts that offer up the sort of melodic accents that accompany the kind of varied tempo changes which allow for a more melodic element to be featured. Though still quite raw and gravelly, there’s plenty of strong atmospheric melodies featured here alongside the blazing traditional black metal and the rather frosty rhythms which generate the kind of featuring plenty of the rumbling patterns. That gives this plenty to like here, almost enough to hold off the album’s main flaw in that there’s just not a whole lot of material here with it’s rather low running order in tight, cramped tracks that aren’t quite that long. It’s given this short running time that doesn’t have all that many tracks here which don’t feature many different notes between them and it’s brevity that makes this go over quicker than it really should. Still, this one isn’t all that terrible an effort.

Despite the rather minor issue here with the type of tracks not really working quick well with the short running time not offering up enough variety, the amount of quality work here is still more than enough to give this a worthwhile look for those into the rawer, more simplistic side of melodic black metal as well as old-school fans in general.

Score: 80/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://akafuneralblackmetal.bandcamp.com/releases

Marsh Dweller - The Weight of Sunlight

Artist: Marsh Dweller

Release Title: The Weight of Sunlight

Year: 2016

Label: Eihwaz Recordings

Genre: Melodic Black Metal

Tracklisting:

1. Cultivating the Cosmic Tree

2. The Dull Earth

3. Where the Sky Ends

4. Monumental Collapse

5. Empty Light of Heavens

6. Forks of the River

7. Feathers on the Breath of God

8. The Weight of Sunlight

Originally launched in 2012, Ohio-based one-man melodic black metal project Marsh Dweller has quietly built the band into a rather promising addition to the genre as he’s relocated now to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Continuing to do everything involved in the project himself, this debut full-length effort was released August 15, 2016 on Eihwaz Recordings.

Once this one gets going, there’s some rather fun and decent work here as this one manages to adequately build itself into a solid melody-driven black metal effort. This is accomplished through tight, simplistic tremolo riff-work that’s all quite nicely played here in a mid-tempo sprawl that leaves the material without much in the way of fiery rhythms here as that simplistic edge and plodding tempo are never really given much use for it in the first place. In a manner of a few rare occasions there is a rather nice up-tempo burst of frantic drumming and urgent, swirling riff-work that gets put on display here to solidify the connection to the specific genre, yet overall that all seems like an afterthought with the dominance of the other slower material in the arrangements which keep this one much more of a lighter-sounding effort. With the inclusion of the acoustic guitar strains over the rest of the material also getting a big chance to add to that particular facet, there’s some much lighter and melodic washes of black metal in the rhythms here, which is where this one does start to come down slightly. The insistence on keeping the tracks more slowed down and mid-tempo doesn’t generate the level of excitement in the rhythms it really should, focusing far too much on keeping the tracks at a straightforward level rather than offering any kind of variation or dynamics to really enhance the melodies. Likewise, the need for three different instrumentals is a rather curious decision as it feels like overkill to include that much when there’s only a finite number of original tracks featured and makes the album seem a little shorter than it really is. Otherwise, this one wasn’t terribly bad at all.

While it does struggle with somewhat slower tempos than it really should and keeps the chances for work down with the shortened track-list, there’s some decent work on display here to make this one a somewhat passably experience for those looking into the melodic black metal scene or enjoy this kind material.

Score: 68/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:

https://marshdweller.bandcamp.com/