Moonknight - Senmorta

Artist: Moonknight

Album: Senmorta

Label: Rising Beast Recordings (RBR-019)

Limitation: 100 Hand-numbered Copies

Country: US

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal/Thrash

Year: 2013

Demo number three from Harassor member James Brown III's highly regarded atmospheric black metal project. While there is a noticeable thrash influence this time around, the Moonknight sound thankfully remains intact. Featuring live drums from Andorkappen, aka Lord Time. Recommended.

LISTEN

BUY

L'Acephale - Decollate

Artist: L'Acephale

Album: Decollate

Label: Black Horizons (BH-75)

Limitation: 200 Copies

Country: US

Genre: Experimental Black Metal/Ambient

Year: 2013

The latest beautifully packaged demo from Set Sothis Nox La's mighty L'Acephale project, containing two original compositions and three covers. An excellent introduction to one of the Pacific Northwest's best-kept secrets. Full stream and review at the mandatory Inarguable blog.

LISTEN

BUY

Sejr - Demo

Artist: Sejr

Album: Sejr

Label: Posh Isolation (Posh Isolation 112)

Limitation: 125 Copies

Country: Denmark

Genre: Raw Black Metal/Punk

Year: 2013

Seven songs. Nine minutes. Concise and driving punk-influenced black metal on the great Posh Isolation imprint. Summoned by members of the post-punk phenomenon, Iceage.

LISTEN

BUY

Urzeit - Demo

Artist: Urzeit

Album: Urzeit

Label: Psychic Violence (PV-XI)

Limitation: 125 Hand-numbered Copies

Country: US

Genre: Black Metal

Year: 2013

One of the year's best debuts. Stomping, aggressive and primal black metal from the Pacific Northwest, featuring members of Mizmor and Ash Borer. Currently sold out from the label but there are a few remaining copies available at Caligari Records.

LISTEN

BUY

Inquisition - Magnificent Glorification Of Lucifer

Artist: Inquisition

Album: Magnificent Glorification Of Lucifer

Label: Sylphorium Records

Limitation: Unknown

Country: Columbia

Genre: Orthodox Black Metal

Year: 2004

Licensed from No Colours Records, Inquisition's 3rd album is a masterpiece of the form, and predates their move to the US. Nothing short of masters of the genre doing what they do best. As with all Inquisition records, this comes highly recommended.

LISTEN

BUY

Svartrit - I

Artist: Svartrit

Album: I

Label: Bubonic Productions (BBP-030)

Limitation: 100 Hand-numbered Copies

Country: Sweden

Genre: Black Metal

Year: 2010

Swedish for 'Black Rite,' Svartrit is one of the leading names in Scandinavian black metal today. The two men behind this epic horde are deeply entrenched in the underground, playing in many stellar bands highly worth seeking out (Grav, Grifteskymfning, Hadanfard, Kaos Sacramentum, Urkaos, Beketh Nexehmu, etc.), and also involved in running the mighty Ancient Records. This is their first full length and one of THE best albums of 2010. Long sold out vinyl version on Ancient. Ignore at your own risk.

LISTEN

BUY

Lake Of Blood - Omnipotens Tyrannus

Artist: Lake Of Blood

Album: Omnipotens Tyrannus 

Label: Cult Of Melancholia

Limitation: Unknown

Country: US

Genre: Black Metal

Year: 2013

With seven songs reaching nearly eighty minutes, the long awaited Omnipotens Tyrannus finds Lake Of Blood coming into their own in grand style. Where previous album As Time And Tide Erodes Stone was a serviceable, if ultimately forgettable piece of west coast black metal, this new album is another beast completely. Ambitious, labyrinthine and progressive (in the good way), this tape-only LP will make many year end lists, mine included. Bonus points for featuring a guest appearance from Wrest on vokills. Pick this up while it's still available from Cult Of Melancholia.

LISTEN

BUY

Forgotten Spell - Opening The Skies Of Sulphuric Paradise

Artist: Forgotten Spell

Album: Opening The Skies Of Sulphuric Paradise

Label: Parasyte Curse (PC-17)

Limitation: 150 Hand-numbered Copies

Country: Germany

Genre: Black Metal

Year: 2011

One of THE most underrated bands recording on one of THE most underrated labels (Parasyte Curse, home of Durazis), Forgotten Spell is one of a very few young Germanic bands that can do no wrong. Off kilter and chaotic, but strangely beautiful tremolo riffs coupled with amazingly unique song structures and an obviously high level of musicianship have made this album/band one of my favorites of the last few years. Also worth tracking down is their previous album, Desecrated, Decayed And Still Holy. Highest Possible Recommendation. 

LISTEN

BUY

Roman Cross - Make Graves The Home Of Men

Artist: Roman Cross

Album: Make Graves The Home Of Men

Label: Yoke Of Christ

Limitation: Unknown

Country: US

Genre: Raw Black Metal

Year: 2009

Perhaps best known for their splits with Circle Of Ouroborus, this slab of hypnotic, driving and repetitive black metal is brought to us from from the mighty Roman Cross out of NYC. Featuring one half of the highly touted Asymmetry, and boasting connections to the exponentially rising Cosmic Church, this one is definitely worth tracking down. Tape edition on the elusive Yoke Of Christ imprint. These roots run deep...

LISTEN

BUY