Vimur

Phasma – Purgatory Review

By Kenstrosity on February 17, 2026 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Deathcore, Hardcore, Technical Death Metal, 34 comments

“Sometimes an album comes around ye olde promo pit that looks and smells familiar, but plays like something else entirely. Today’s entry into the “what the heck am I actually listening to?” hall of infamy is Phasma’s Purgatory. The third record from the Greek/US duo, and the first carried by a label—our beloved Transcending Obscurity Records—Purgatory continually subverted every expectation I had. In doing so, it became one of my biggest pleasant surprises in recent memory.” Set Phasmas to brutal stun.

Sarastus – Agony Eternal Review

By Kenstrosity on July 3, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 58 comments

“If you follow the Finnish, or even the wider Scandinavian black metal scene, you might know about Finnish trio Sarastus. I would never have known about them, though, if it weren’t for AMG Hisselves telling Dr. A. N. Grier to listen to them and cover this. Of course, because I’m an opportunistic bastard with a ravenous appetite for shenanigans—and because GrierGrier slept on the promo pool until he was sunburned to a smoking chunk of stinky charcoal—I swiped it right from under his nose. Sucks to suck, loser! Now I’m here, spinning Sarastus’ third opus, Agony Eternal, and reveling in the fact that I stole something that just happened to be worth stealing from not one, but two upper management. You’re welcome.” Stolen goods, Finnish hoods.

Solfatare – Asservis par l’espoir Review

By Kenstrosity on May 1, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, 11 comments

“Belgian trio Solfatare prime the release of their debut record, Asservis par l’espoir, at a challenging time to compete in the black metal arena. With heavyweight acts dropping records right and left in this space in 2025, Asservis par l’espoir has its work cut out for it to make a big splash and a lasting impression. With only a demo to their name so far, Solfatare launch with a blank slate, adopting the traditional methods of offering as little identifying information as possible before unleashing its hellish shadow upon the land.” Mysterious and malicious.

Stuck in the Filter – September’s Angry Misses

By Kenstrosity on December 10, 2023 in Stuck in the Filter, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Industrial Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Metalcore, Power Metal, Thrash Metal, 21 comments

Steam the Filters, they need cleaning! Fa la la la la la la la. Stains in the gearworks require sweeeping! Fa la la la la la la la. Holiday.

Imperial Crystalline Entombment – Ancient Glacial Resurgence Review

By Kenstrosity on August 29, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, 32 comments

“In 2004, Imperial Crystalline Entombment unleashed their awesome debut record Apocalyptic End in White, which kicks off with a furious chant, “WE ARE. FUCKIN’. IIIIIIIICCCEEEEE!!!” Nothing can beat a line like that as the first lyric on an extreme metal album. Glorious and charming in equal measure, this war cry defines the cave-brained, explosive fun which characterizes the Maryland-based quartet’s particular brand of ravenous, chilly black metal. Fast forward to today, nineteen years later, and I.C.E. prepare their sophomore burst of icy blizzardry.” A new ice rage.

Vimur – Transcendental Violence Review

By Kenstrosity on April 2, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 36 comments

“Back in 2019, I raved about Vimur’s sophomore album, Triumphant Master of Fates. It was a magnificent expulsion of incendiary black metal fueled by venom and vitriol. Three years later, the Atlanta quartet readies their next salvo, entitled Transcendental Violence. Lucifer only knows what the hell that means, but there’s no doubt that destruction awaits.” Violence as currency.

Vimur – Triumphant Master of Fates Review

By Kenstrosity on February 27, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Black Metal, Boris Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 94 comments

“Have you ever looked up on a clear night, no artificial light for miles around, and observed in awe the spectacular array of heavenly bodies above? Stars abundant sparkle and twinkle, all seeming minuscule in relation to the massive distances separating us from them. As you gaze upon the majesty above you can’t help but feel a strange duality between absolute wonder and crushing disappointment; wonder at the beauty nature put on display every night for millennia, and disappointment at the entirety of humanity’s wholly insignificant existence for progressively wiping out such a display from the night sky (save for but a few precious locations). This duality between wonder and disappointment is exactly what I face whenever I spin Atlanta’s Vimur’s sophomore full-length Triumphant Master of Fates.” Master Blaster.