Agalloch

Domhain – In Perfect Stillness Review

Domhain – In Perfect Stillness Review

By Steel Druhm on February 19, 2026 in Reviews, Black Metal, 56 comments

“For the second review in a row, I heard about a band via skimming YouTube, heard something I liked, and tracked down their promo. I’m used to working this from the other direction, but when the almighty algorithm gives, one must take and be thankful. Domhain is an atmospheric post-black metal band from Northern Ireland, and In Perfect Stillness is their debut full-length. With an emotionally charged sound and style, Domhain touches on the past works of Darkest Era, Primordial, and Agalloch while utilizing cellos and haunting female vocals to punctuate the melancholic, often grim moods they wallow in.” Dashed upon the Reefs of Grief.

Yellow Eyes – Confusion Gate [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]

Yellow Eyes – Confusion Gate [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]

By Samguineous Maximus on December 5, 2025 in Things You Might Have Missed 2025, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 45 comments

“Romantic sublimity. It’s the idea that something in nature or art can be both wondrous and terrifying. Few bands capture this feeling as vividly as Yellow Eyes. Led by the Skarstad brothers, the New York band has explored this duality across their catalog—from the more straightforward black metal of Silence Threads the Evening’s Cloth (2012) and Sick With Bloom (2015), to the atmospheric and dissonant soundscapes of Immersion Trench Reverie (2017) and Rare Field Ceiling (2019), and even the dungeon synth/dark ambient territory of Master’s Murmur (2023). Throughout these records, their alien guitar work, uncanny melodic sense, ability to craft music that is both beautiful and oppressive, and obsessive attention to aesthetic detail have made Yellow Eyes one of the most exciting contemporary black metal acts.” Jaundiced but beautiful.

Finnr’s Cane – Finnr’s Cane Review

Finnr’s Cane – Finnr’s Cane Review

By Killjoy on September 2, 2025 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 9 comments

“Finnr is an Old Norse name that loosely translates to “wanderer” in English. Whether or not this was the inspiration for Finnr’s Cane, it’s an apt moniker for an atmospheric black metal act. Hailing from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, this studio-only group has three prior albums under its belt, the last of which, Elegy, won the overall approval of Ferrous Beuller
in 2018. And now, Finnr’s Cane seems to signal a new era with the release of self-titled album number four.” No cane, no gane.

Blackbraid – Blackbraid III Review

Blackbraid – Blackbraid III Review

By Doom_et_Al on August 7, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, 190 comments

“It takes a lot to quicken pulses at AMG Headquarters. Driven to exhaustion by merciless overlords, constant deadlines, and extended periods in the promo sump, the staff often look like—and have the pulse rate variability of—a hoard of unkempt zombies. But even we took notice when Blackbraid burst out of nowhere with some key singles from his first album, 2022’s Blackbraid I. Here was angry, melodic, accessible black metal, infused with Native American spirit and vigor, that did not rely on tired tropes or clichés. What could have been a gimmick instead lent the material majesty and an epic scope.” Spirit deer in the nightside eclipse.

Oskoreien – Hollow Fangs Review

Oskoreien – Hollow Fangs Review

By Owlswald on July 16, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 14 comments

“Atmosphere is a hallmark of great black metal, but for California’s Oskoreien it’s only half the story. Composer and multi-instrumentalist Jay Valena’s long-running black metal project serves as an auditory exploration of complex theoretical themes. 2010’s self-titled debut—an earlier EP version AMG Himself lauded—channeled the atmospheric and acoustic black textures of Ulver and Agalloch into a deep contemplation of a nihilistic existence.” Fang for the buck.

Dolven – In My Grave…Silence Review

Dolven – In My Grave…Silence Review

By ClarkKent on June 13, 2025 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Folk, Not Metal, 32 comments

“In his review of Aganoor’s Doomerism, Killjoy discussed how the “myriad subgenres” of doom “can sound so wildly different from one another.” We can add to this discussion Portland, Oregon’s Dolven, who bills their latest album, In My Grave…Silence, as acoustic doom. This begs the question, what constitutes doom metal? Doom typically buries you in melancholy and despair with heavy, plodding, low-tuned guitars, or it sets you up for a good trip by adding some fuzz to the guitar tone. Can one really write doom music using acoustic instruments? Could you even call it metal, or is it just folk music?” Impending doom ruminating.

Esox – Watery Grave Review

Esox – Watery Grave Review

By Thus Spoke on May 8, 2025 in Reviews, Ambient, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Shoegaze, 41 comments

“Pikes—the genus Esox—are perfect predators whose size and ferocity have made them somewhat legendary. However, as an emblem, they are somewhat understated and powerful but unobvious: literally hidden under the surface of the water, part of the sempiternal and vital river ecosystem. This lends weight to the already evident fact that Esox is an incredibly personal project for its creator, Federico Sturiale. 5 years in the making, Watery Grave tells the story of a suicidal drowning, with the drowner’s final reflections making up the album’s acts. It’s a tale that feels every bit as organic and raw as it ought to.” Immersion therapy.

Nydvind – Telluria Review

Nydvind – Telluria Review

By El Cuervo on April 2, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, 3 comments

“There are many heavy metal bands in the world. Intense genre stratification led to lots of musical hopefuls attempting to carve their own path. Despite their best efforts, it’s incredibly rare for a band to do something that hasn’t been done before. Citing a journey through the “raw energy of black metal,” “profound melancholy of doom,” and “organic vitality of folk,” France’s Nydvind are making another such attempt with their fourth album entitled Telluria. This unusual medley and a 20-year history ensured that I didn’t instinctively reject the one sheet’s notion that the group may be pioneering; there aren’t many bands operating in this genre that split 3 sounds.” Triple threat?