Metal Reviews

I'm kind of embarrassed to ask this since I'll be reviewing a lot of BM but pretty much all of my BM save from Drudkh that I own is Scandinavian or US.

Given the fact that I need to attain as much knowledge in extreme metal as possible, I would like some quality Slavic BM suggestions.

PS - Buying Umro from The Stone right now.

Check the Drudkh-related bands, like Hate Forest, Blood Of Kingu, Astrofaes, Lutomysl, Lucifugum, and then just go on from there. Graveland and Nokturnal Mortum, assuming you don't mind the dodgy crowd.

If you dig that Eastern European sound, and don't mind listening to a band that thinks being a Nazi will give you magic powers, check America's Eldrig out. Very powerful music, but completely bonkers and not at all suitable for review.

Well hi Skiggath; I'd be glad to help. This should be a good starter.

The Stone is a good start--I am quite fond of Magla.

Turing to just the Ukraine

http://www.myspace.com/krodaua

Kroda is a must.

I'll assume you have some knowledge of Nokturnal Mortum (and I suppose they are off limits on this site)

Drudkh band member projects--Aristofaes and Blood of Kingu.

Blood of Kingu just released a very good black/death album combing Sumerian themes, some of the trademark Drudkh droning, and a lot more speed and aggression.
http://www.myspace.com/bloodofkinguband
First track on here is a beast, IMHO.

Aristofaes is also more aggressive than Drukdh, but without the deathy tinge to Blood of Kingu
http://www.myspace.com/astrofaesmusic

Lucifugum has a billion albums out, some are highly praised, but the one I have didn't grab me much.

Russia hasn't revealed much to me (most Russian bands tend to embrace folk more than black) but Walknut is excellent.

http://www.myspace.com/walknutband

Listen to the track on that link.

I like really like Temnozer as well, though I share Cry of the Banshee's critique of them being 'too light'. They are right on the line between folk and black metal.

http://www.myspace.com/temnozor

Nokturnal Mortum are too hateful, yes. But good call on the Kroda, forgot that name.

Drudkh is one of the best bands I can recommend, Temnozor is also a wonderful band as well. Though for a faster bit their demos were NS but they ditched that trend, is Thunderbolt from Poland who are a bit faster than most.

Adding to previous recommendations, Negura Bunget, of course. Also, not sure if they can classify as Black metal, all that crazy strange bands from Czech Republic, as Root, Love History, Forgotten Silence, Master's Hammer...

I've been hunting the net for Om. That's an excellent album. I have heard of Nokturnal Mortum and Graveland, and while I'm engaged to a Jewish girl, I don't mind listening to NSBM even though they're total assholes. Good to know that NSBM for the most part is not allowed on this site.

Question for Zad: Is Satanic Warmaster reviewable??? I believe that band might be a little facist...

Thanks to all for the great suggestions. Looking forward to putting some more Slavic BM reviews on this site.

Very often a bunch of derivative cranks playing tedious music. Drudkh have been pointless since BIOW (admittedly a fantastic record) and Astrofaes is a crappy xerox. Kroda and those bands are like some goonish swiss folk metal but with edgy cool points for being fascist nuts.

Master's Hammer is awesome and so is Negura Bunget.

Skiggath- if your BM listening is currently limited to US and Scandinavia, I would recommend a good long while exploring the French BM scene ahead of the E Euro one.

I think they're very fascist, if memory serves.

I couldn't disagree more with Rio, particularly on the merits of Kroda and the latest Drudkh album, Microcosmos.

But this thread shouldn't devolve into a pissing match, and despite our disagreements, Rio is a swell guy.

That said, Ukrainian black metal>>>>USBM.

Since we've moved on past 'Slavic BM', let me recommend another black metal band from the former USSR, Darkestrah.
Now residing in Germany, they bring a fascinating Inner Asia black metal folk sound to their music. The first track on their myspace is excellent.

http://www.myspace.com/officialdarkestrah

Branching out into Hungary, Bornholm tastefully mixes influences from Enslaved, Emperor, Immortal and countrymen Sear Bliss into something fresh and very listenable. Some excellent riffage too.

http://www.myspace.com/bornholm

So what does Bornholm take from Sear Bliss? Perhaps the occasional affinity for using brass, which Sear Bliss is basically known for.

http://www.myspace.com/searbliss

But yes, Negura Bunget is the king of Eastern European Black Metal, even if it is hard to categorize them strictly as such. Om is my album of the millenium.

Branikald
Maniac Butcher
Thor's Hammer (Three Weeds is the best)
Szron
Forest
Valefar
Gontyna Kry
Dub Buk
haven't been mentioned yet



there are some great bands out of Germany, Greece and Italy these days, too.

Haha, due to high general irritation levels I was a little blunt on that occasion.

That is what I figured, seeing your posts in the "how things are with you" thread

Besatt is another good one, from Poland, I believe.

That explains those damn Final Fantasy sounds.

Yeah. It's basically the baddies' belief system in Return To Castle Wolfenstein, is ariosophy.

Well thanks guys. I have a lot of music to check out now. And as far as the French scene is concerned, I do own 2 Deathspell Omega albums but would like to open an additional post asking for suggestions there once I add some Slavic BM to my collection.

PS - Ok Zad, I won't review Satanic Warmaster. Just checking.

You'll have lots of suggestions on France, and Germany too, if you ask about that as well.

you can't miss with Nokturnal Mortuum

The best french bm is Mutiilation - Remains of a Ruined, Dead, Cursed Soul.

Dub Buk as mentioned by V. are really good, but I'm not sure they are appropriate for review.