Apr 092016
 

Negative Voice-Cold redrafted

 

About two weeks ago, in one of our Shades of Black posts, I wrote about two songs (“Limitation” and “Karmic Pattern” by Moscow’s Negative Voice that made an immediate and strong impression when I heard them. Those two tracks appear on the band’s second album, Cold Redrafted. I’ve now heard the rest of the songs, and you can, too — because we’re premiering a full stream just a couple of days in advance of its release.

Negative Voice deftly blend progressive-minded instrumental inventiveness, entrancing melodic hooks, and earth-shaking heaviness, while wrapping the music here and there in a wreath of charred black thorns. Continue reading »

Mar 272016
 

Bestia Arcana art

 

It’s Easter Sunday, so of course I have a Shades of Black collection to share, with new music in a mainly blackened vein from 9 bands, because we need an extra large round-up of black today. The first two selections are more in the nature of teasers, while the balance of these selections are complete songs, EPs, or albums. There are lots of contrasts in this collection, from the utterly savage to the dreamlike and spellbinding.

BESTIA ARCANA

Last week Daemon Worship Productions launched a YouTube video which said nothing more than “Bestia Arcana. Holókauston is coming.” After doing further research I was able to find… no more details.

I presume that Holókauston is the name of the new second album by this Colorado black metal band, whose members were last reported to include Naas Alcameth of Akhlys and Nightbringer, K. (formerly of Nightbringer), and drummer Menthor (Nightbringer, Enthroned, Lvcifyre, etc.). And if those names don’t make you sit up and pay attention, then you’re in need of serious remedial posture training. Continue reading »