Don’t you ever feel like you want to get involved in something gross yet compelling? (And no, don’t say what your dirty mind is thinking!) Well, Lenax is a Black Metal band that, despite its underground nature, is trying to remind us of Watain’s good old days. I know that can raise passions, but I consider myself a fan, and nothing would be nicer than returning to that kind of old-school vibe. Infection has a straightforward name and proposal, so at least we’re not getting scammed this time. You’d be surprised how many times that happens with promos. Let’s go!
Sometimes I wonder what Atmospheric Black Metal would sound like if anyone actually knew or cared how to produce it. Enter Beleth’s Trumpet‘s Chapel of Bones, a band seemingly interested in doing old-school Black Metal that doesn’t sound like French fries fried out of existence. It also happens to be a Finnish band, and despite my best efforts to find some drama, it remains properly mysterious. Time will tell if that’s a good or bad thing. Anyway, let’s dive into this swirling mass of malevolence and static noise.
Hi there, my beautiful music degenerates. Here I am, back with another section of low‑budget and unpredictable releases from the dungeons of my email inbox and personal DMs. What can I say? You people reach out in all sorts of creative ways that would probably cross more than one legal boundary. Anyway, I’ll talk to my lawyer later and focus on this random selection of bands again.
Whether you like it or not, we live in an interconnected world, where people end up being or living in places they didn’t plan to be in the first place. Enterré Vivant is a French project. However, its creator has been living in Japan for 25 years, so it wouldn’t be wrong to call him at least part Japanese—which is why Akuzaï got my attention. How would French/Japanese Black Metal sound? Is it going to be a cheap gimmick, or is it going to take the best of both worlds? Let’s see.
…And Oceans has had a quiet and interesting return from the dead. It even released As in Gardens, So in Tombs, an album that could’ve made it to any serious ranking in 2023. It was a fascinating take on rough MeloBlack that borrowed heavily from ’90s Swedish Black Metal, yet still carried its own deeply depressing and personal touch. So here we are with The Regeneration Itinerary, and hopefully the album will keep regenerating (yes, pun intended) the band’s renewed career. Otherwise, I’m strong enough to be disappointed. Let’s get to it, kids.
I can’t speak for my fellow reviewers here, but I’ve gotten a lot of stinkers lately — oh, sorry, is that not diplomatic? At least I’m giving no names! However, there was something about Drouth that made me think there might be hope for something fresher this time. The Teeth of Time had all the signs of apparent validity: long tracks, but balanced between Black and Death Metal; cool art and title; but mostly, the band is from Portland, Oregon — a place Extreme Metal owes a lot to. But I’m under no illusion about how badly expectations can betray you. Let’s go!
The Teeth of Time has that raw, organic production that’s become part of the Portland scene. However, you can still appreciate everything that’s going on, so for those of you who like authenticity and actual dexterity, you’ll have a blast — assuming being swallowed into a tornado of anguish and anxiety is your definition of fun. Drouth is a band that takes itself seriously and has no problem staying in a place that would make the average Metal noob very uncomfortable. Yet this is all balanced with bleak details that add emotional depth to the journey.
The vocals are wild, jumping between growling and shrieking. It’s hard to put a single label on The Teeth. Sometimes, it felt like I was listening to Downfall of Gaia mixed with Fall of Rauros and Spectral Wound; other times, it leaned more into old Tomb Mold territory — and yet, there are moments of Melodic Death Metal here too. Don’t let its primal first assault fool you: Drouth has crafted something that genuinely defied my expectations. It’s not often you find an album that sounds evil and tragic at the same time. I believe a lot of that comes down to the diverse guitar work throughout, which resists being pinned to just one idea or formula.
I usually don’t enjoy this kind of basement Metal as much as I’ve enjoyed The Teeth. However, if you’re not paying close attention to its detail, it won’t be all that engaging. The album isn’t long, but the tracks are — especially when the high-pitched shrieking comes in, things can feel particularly jarring. So while the pacing has its bumps, it’s not a major issue. Still, I’d like to see Drouth explore more of its melancholic side, especially when opening tracks. The intros, particularly around the middle of the album, are a bit too conservative.
The best albums are the ones that surprise me in some way. Or maybe that’s just the opinion of someone who’s reviewed hundreds of records and is dying for a little sugar in their bland porridge. Either way, that’s what we’ve got here. It might not be for everyone, but Drouth is clearly trying to catch us off guard — and for once, I’m all in.
Cue Monday! If Mondays make you feel like smashing your face in with a rock, I come bearing a remedy to your ails — something that feels just as intense, but without the medical expenses. Coming from the Emerald Isle, here is Horrenda and its most recent EP, Think On Your Sins.
We have unfinished business with Behemoth, and as we prepare for The Sh@t ov God to be smeared all over us, let’s continue this journey through its discography. If you haven’t read the first half, click here! Now, without further ado, let’s jump into the best half of this band’s catalogue — the one filled with actual legendary work!
If you follow us on social media, you’ll know I have a complex relationship with Behemoth. This is because the band only has two modes: either it absolutely blasts me away, or it makes me sink into the worst depression ever—because of how much disdain I end up feeling. So in the end, I’m not angry, just disappointed. Join me in this ranking, where we’ll reach the lowest lows and the highest highs Metal can offer before we dive into The Sh@t ov God.
It’s time to return to the roots of this forsaken section. Today, I bring you nothing but dirty, rancid Black Metal from the pit. However, don’t let all my adjectives fool you—there’s something interesting about every release I’ve picked. Whether it’s how at home they make us feel or how real they sound, there’s no doubt in my mind that Black Metal is more dead and alive at the same time than ever before. But enough babbling—let’s get to what you came for.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 