Russian Metal

Tardigrade Inferno – Hush Review

By Kenstrosity on March 6, 2026 in Reviews, Cabaret Metal, Melodic Metal, 35 comments

“In 2019, I accidentally stumbled upon St. Petersburg’s wacko dark cabaret metal freaks Tardigrade Inferno’s debut Mastermind, depicting an adorable evil water bear as mascot. You can imagine that I was immediately hooked. Their legitimately heavy riffs and whimsical songwriting kept me coming back for more when Burn the Circus dropped four years later. That release doubled down on original material backed by a more focused metallic spirit, and all the better for it. Initially, it sounded like third installment, Hush picked up right where Burn left off. However, gone is my beloved little tardigrade.” Sound of a circus leaving.

Frozen Ocean – Askdrömmar Review

By Grymm on March 1, 2026 in Reviews, 19 comments

“One of the biggest challenges I’ve encountered as a music reviewer is trying to describe a band’s musical aesthetic when their discography is all over the place. Now, I know what you’re thinking: Blut Aus Nord, and you would be correct, but at least there’s an intangible thread connecting the various gnarled branches to their undulating, pulsing roots. Vaarwel, the mastermind and sole proprietor of Russia’s Frozen Ocean, takes his project to where it needs to be, and how he feels it should be delivered, musically.” Oceans of despair and dread.

Grima – Nightside Review

By Carcharodon on February 27, 2025 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 88 comments

“Siberia’s Grima and I are old friends. Even though I only managed to snaffle reviewing rights on their last outing, 2022’s Frostbitten, each of their three releases since I started my indeterminate sentence here at AMG Industries has made my year-end Lists. From the raw, folksy, accordion-driven black metal charms of Will of the Primordial (2019), through the more grandiose (if ever so slightly tropey) atmoblack of Rotten Garden (2021) to pick-of-the-pack Frostbitten, Grima has my number.” Grima tidings.

Pyre – Where Obscurity Sways Review

By Dear Hollow on February 5, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Hardcore, 21 comments

“Swedeath is one of those games I have zero skin in, but its close overlap with hardcore-influenced death metal and death ‘n roll makes that relationship complicated. Like I could not be bothered by Left Hand Path, but Wolverine Blues is a stalwart among my music collection; Bloodbath is regrettably not an act I return to regularly, but I consider Black Breath one of those rare successful intersections of grind, death metal, and death ‘n roll. My point is, I don’t know where the line is drawn between these styles but I know I like some of it and then can’t be fussed about the rest of it. With Pyre, the jury’s still out.” Gimme fuel, gimme Pyre!

Olhava – Sacrifice Review

By Carcharodon on January 29, 2024 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Shoegaze, 33 comments

“Less black metal than Trna, and more evocative synths a la Unreqvited, there is no rushing Olhava. Shimmering soundscapes are what they do, albeit that, where Unreqvited has (at least since 2018’s Mosaic I: L’Amour et L’Ardeur) hints of light and promise in the sound, Olhava is all shades of loss and a sense of hopeless grey.” 50 shades of sadboi.

Malist – Of Scorched Earth Review

By Thus Spoke on January 17, 2024 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 40 comments

“If there’s anything I could say for certain about Malist, it’s that they can get a hell of a lot of variety out of the superficially simple ‘atmospheric black metal’ subgenre. This variety, spanning melodic, second-wave, and quasi-DSBM styles, has doubtless played a role in Malist’s very positive reception in these halls. At least through 2021’s Karst Relic.” Mal, Maler, Malist.

Stuck in the Filter – April’s Angry Misses

By Kenstrosity on July 1, 2023 in Stuck in the Filter, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Folk, Gothic Metal, Hardcore, Mathcore, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Punk, Thrash Metal, 53 comments

April Filter scum brings May audio chum. Get yours while supplies last!

Bizarrekult – Den Tapte Krigen Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 28, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, 75 comments

“On initial listen, I can tell you that Den Tapte Krigen is no Vi Overlevde. Let that sink in as you consider the consequences of that statement. Is that good or bad? For one, Den Tapte Krigen is a tighter album (only eight tracks) with a formalized theme. There’s fluidity from the beginning to the end of this journey. What about those surprise transitions and standout songs, you ask?” Rejoin the Kult.

Second to Sun – Nocturnal Philosophy [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 30, 2022 in Things You Might Have Missed 2022, Black Metal, 15 comments

“Of all the black metal names tossed around this site, Second to Sun is one of my favorites. Since giving their amazing record, The Walk, the top spot in 2018, StS have been regular listers for ole Grier. The combination of atmoblack, unsettling dissonance, and crushing riffs is like nothing I’ve ever heard before from a black metal outfit. The band has followed a standard format of digestible track lengths spread evenly over a forty-to-fifty-minute runtime for the last few years. But something dark is hovering over Vlad and co. Nocturnal Philosophy is something different.” Swallow this Sun?

Grima – Frostbitten Review

By Carcharodon on July 29, 2022 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 38 comments

“Finally, I have wrested reviewing rights for Russia’s Grima from the grips of the dastardly Cherd of Doom. Not, it should be noted, because he accepts that he underrated the masked duo’s last two albums but because he has other pressing deadlines. Underrate them he did though, in my opinion at least. 2019’s Will of the Primordial and the 2021 follow up, Rotten Garden, were both 4.0s if you ask me (not that Cherd did ask me). Atmospheric black metal powered by the icy winds of the tundra and the exhaled air of a bayan or accordion, Grima is very much my cup of vodka.” Roll out the blizzard barrel.