The Ruins Of Beverast – Tempelschlaf

Metalcatto

I’m kind of mad that this promo somehow ended up in my junk folder and only now did I get around to listening to The Ruins of BeverastTempelschlaf. Needless to say, I can’t recall a time when this band released anything that wasn’t at least a solid 4/5. Few acts have mastered the feeling of shamanic Black Metal the way The Ruins of Beverast has. The trance-like state the music induces is so distinctive that its only real competition has always been itself. As a result, my standards were high going into this record. I was expecting nothing less than a hallucinatory descent into something deeply unsettling, so let’s get into it.

Robust – Robust

It’s been a while since we’ve tackled a proper dose of raw Black Metal – the kind that makes you want to rip your hair out and sends your cat scrambling under the bed. Normally, we let those rancid “true kvlt” promos pass by unnoticed, but every so often, something slithers out of the void that’s just too interesting to ignore. Enter RobustRobust (yes, the album is as sturdy as its name suggests). Think the name lacks edge? Don’t worry, because this is about to plunge straight into the abyss.

The Omega Swarm – Crimson Demise

Sometimes, I check my spam emails because the universe always dumps the most important releases there. The Omega Swarm looked like any other promo at first. Sure, it had cool cover art, but there wasn’t much more to say right away. However, when I read that this band is closely linked to probably the most interesting Lovecraft-inspired band ever, Sulphur Aeon (don’t worry, I know about The Great Old Ones; they’re also at the top), I decided to avoid the summer sunlight again and just lose myself in Crimson Demise. So, is it an abyss of despair or just as meh as Lovecraft’s writing style? Let’s find out!