Articles by Michael Lueders

Formed in Germany in 2004, Finsterforst is a six-piece that has pursued the nature of humanity and philosophy. Release number eight, ‘Jenseits’ continues their emotive, challenging ideas. A single track marking a different period or […]

Where to begin with this gem of a black metal album, I would say at the beginning, for me, this happened back in 2021 when the world was gripped in a morass of enforced seclusion […]

Undeniable legends in the genre of pure black metal, stalwarts, and Icons at times plagued by controversy, Sweden’s Marduk has since 1990 interwoven their death metal beginnings with the sonic Scandinavian terror of Black metal.  […]

The Melbourne (Aus) duo of Ben Williamson (Guitars, bass, keys & vocals)  and Elliott Sansom (Drums & vocals) return with the second release of Dusk Cult.  Night Sky Revelations is more than just another fantastic […]

Countess Erzsebet is the creation of Rachel Bloodspell Moongoddess (USA).  The project began in 2017, known as Erzsebet with the Black Spell release and Countess Erzsebet is not so much a debut as a release […]

In Norse mythology, a Vargr is a wolf, especially the wolf Fenrir that destroyed the god Odin in the battle of Ragnarök. Henrik Nordvargr Björkk (no stranger to electronic chaos with MZ412) has adopted the […]

Menelyagor is the creative force behind Australia’s one individual project Artanor (formerly involved with the excellent Fen Hollen). In Servitude of Darkness is not merely the long-awaited debut release (fourteen years after the ‘’Imperial Hordes’’Split) […]

Awakening Records (China) is the label when it comes to resurrecting bands and albums from the golden era of the late eighties and nineties when tape trading ruled and bands spread by word of mouth […]

Missouri-based (USA) CORROSIVE is the latest to receive the Awakening records re-issue treatment. Initially formed in 1991, Corrosive issued just one album, which beautifully persevered in all its ugly glory, the underrated ‘’I’m Bleeding”. Gloriously […]

New Jersey-based death metal act Sapremia burst into the underground with their debut demo ‘’ Subconscious Rot (1992), and then followed it up with the aptly titled “Existence of Torture”  in 1994. However, they split […]

Heavily influenced by George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire”, Germany’s Dying Phoenix has, after more than ten years of activity, delivered their debut album. This epic symphonic metal journey is ‘’ Winter […]

Without appeasement ‘’ Uten Nådigst Formildelse’’ is the debut album of Norways Thomas Ødegaard (Nocturnal Breed) and vocalist, guitarist, bassist, and keyboards Kharon (ex-Covenant). It is an album that comes with it the expectations and […]

Time Held Me Grey and Dying is such a complete, cohesive work it is hard to believe it is the Debut Album from Ofnus, a UK atmospheric black metal act that only began in 2021! […]

Death of Idols is the debut offering of Haradrim. Inspired by a race of men from Lord of the rings. The core duo of Swedes Anton Palmborg and Dennis Sjögren have created a raw furious […]

Australia’s Eurovision representative Voyager enter promised land with their new synth-metal anthem ‘Promise’ that they bring to the world stage. The band kicked off their Australia run of shows in Brisbane this past weekend with […]

I have never heard of this band before doing this review, and I am always curious about reviewing artists I don’t know. This album really is a tale of 2 different sides, though, a divided […]

Insolence is the utterly defiant, disrespectful debut from Greek black metal outfit Median Omega, which is true to the chaos that is extreme music. From the opening title track through to the magnum opus that […]

From the damnable bowels of hell arise Argentina’s Infernal Curse. Respected, uncompromising and truly brutal, they unleash their third magnum opus, the mighty Revelations Beyond Insanity. Specialising in the eighties blackened death metal onslaught that […]

‘’ Comme des revenants parmi les ruines’’ is the highly anticipated debut of Quebec’s Sacrenoir. Featuring the highly regarded duo of Athros (Brume d’Automne, Fortress) and Monarque (Monarque, Fortress) it is an album that extols […]

New Zealand’s Darktide is unique to the environment. Consciously aware of man’s failings as an individual and as a collective, No One Nowhere Nothing is the Auckland five-piece debut EP, and it is an immense […]

German Metallers Craving continues their monumental saga with ‘’Call of the Sirens’’, their fourth offering to the metal gods that continues the epic journey from their previous release, “By The Storm”. ‘’Call of the Sirens’’ […]

The beast has arisen with this multi-pronged attack of music. Newcastle-based Lycanthrope has brought out their 4 song EP, “Hydra”. After listening to it all you will likely wind up running around in your hirsute […]

Eave releases their third full-length Opus ‘’Fervor’’. This an emotional, atmospheric offering that continues their journey from their previous release ‘’ Phantoms Made Permanent’’ into new realms of experimentation, emotion and cohesion for this US-based […]

German four-piece Loather release their debut full-length album Eis. It is six tracks that capture the essence of modern post-music. Eis rages with a storm like quality yet also has a sense of calm with […]