It was but 2020 when GRIEVE emerged from the darkness with their self-titled debut EP. Although otherwise meant to exist strictly in that darkness, it was soon discerned that the band included veritable Finnish black metal royalty within its ranks. Nevertheless, the swiftly uncompromising nature of Grieve was felt: Northern Black Metal Exclusively From the 1990s. No more, no less, no progression, no fun.
And then, at the dawn of 2020 came GRIEVE's first - and, at the time, final - album. Aptly titled Funeral, the record was a fiercely focused one, solely featuring funereal marches by V-Khaoz and last rites by Werwolf. Beyond cold, utterly grim, violent and restrained simultaneously, Funeral was a record out of time, one where the last couple decades of "black metal" never existed. And then GRIEVE ceased to exist.
But, obeying only nature and will, GRIEVE have arisen from their own self-imposed grave with the second full-length Wolves of the Northern Moon. "We said we'd end the project for good, but we lied," state the band about that grave. "We exhumed it." Indeed, the exhumation also includes a nastiness last found on such Nordic classics as Kronet til konge, Pentagram, Til evighet..., or even Black Thrash Attack. Essentially, then, GRIEVE's ethics have not changed (nor should they have to), but one can nonetheless find here a pronounced asskicking sensibility that adds further antagonization to trendy ears as well as a noble march to mystical victories. "Eternal Winter, Eternal War": These Wolves of the Northern Moon are on the hunt - and you're next!
ERNTE are True Helvetic Black Metal. After almost 20 years of creating dark ambient music, photography, painting, and graphic art, Häxär decided that it was time to return to the roots: In 2020, his long-time passion for black metal found a form of expression in ERNTE, where he is the main songwriter, guitar player, and responsible for recording and mixing. In Askahex (vocals, bass, violin), he found an appropriate and experienced co-musician. She played bass and violin in the all-girl doom band shEver before she started as frontwoman in the Swiss black-doom band Ashtar.
For 15 years now, BERGRIZEN have been standard-bearers for the new wave of Ukrainian black metal which honors the old. The work of one Myrd'raal, BERGRIZEN have released five studio albums and even a live album, nearly all of which have been released in some manner by PURITY THROUGH FIRE. Just this autumn, the band released a stopgap album in Orathania, largely comprised of ambient and dark folk with fierce-yet-fleeting moments of black metal. Now, born in the hardest days, BERGRIZEN deliver their all-new (and all black metal) album, Die Falle.
Back in 1998 I stumbled upon the first Pest demo and was instantly captivated by it. The insane vocals, the crazy selfmade photos, the prominent bass guitar, the acoustic parts, just the songs in itself.