Glad you guys like Urzeit so much, I am currently about halfway through this album by a band called Lathspell and totally loving it. Their drummer joined Azaghal in 2012 and one of their guitarists also joined Azaghal in 2015. This album is 4 long songs and they totally shred, going to check out the rest of their discography after this.

https://lathspell.bandcamp.com/album/torn-cold-void

I just wanted to drop a general recommendation here for the new Sauron album, Conquest Through Attrition. I've been a fan of these guys for years now, and the first two albums are devastating but this new one is on a different level. They've managed to create a darker atmosphere without sacrificing anything in the way of ferocity. I would say there are some influences creeping in outside the black and thrash spectrum, specifically some insane speed metal here and there.

I think these guys have been special for awhile but they hit a new gear I never expected with this one, and I think people are going to miss it because they basically do zero self-promotion outside their little sphere.

Yeah Sick6Six, Lathspell are cool shit. Haven't heard the new one yet though, I should get on that. Haven't heard the new Sauron yet either, but I'm pumped! Definitely one of the few thrash bands able to really hold my interest much, and adding in some insane speed metal sounds like a perfect addition to their sound.

Sauron is awesome, thanks for the namedrop dudes.

Like everyone else has said, this is the shit. Ugly and asskicking. Definitely nailed what I was looking for.

The bass in the Barathrum and Countess albums are a bit cleaner than what I had in mind, unfortunately (though I'm currently listening to Saatana and it's not bad).

And Impaled Nazarene is simply cool. I've only listened to Pro Patria Finlandia and All that You Fear, and really liked them, so it's not surprising I like Latex Cult. I can't help but feel that if the bass had more of a "roar", it'd be even better. Good shit nonetheless.

Lastly, I couldn't find Impious Havoc albums to stream, and am embarrassed to admit that I'm too broke for a blind purchase.

Again, thanks for the recommendations.

The last song (and title track) specifically has a main riff that I would say is Victor Ruiz's grand accomplishment in life. I have a sneaking suspicion he had some riffs on deck for the second Borrowed Time album that never was, and repackaged them (uglier, faster) for Sauron. Conquest Through Attrition, the song, is BANANAS.

I was actually digging into Sauron the other day, but got sidetracked, I'll get back to them this weekend (today during work). The latest Lathspell is amazing, the first track has a bit of a chill "intro" before it gets to full out awesome mode. I have to work backwards in their discography now as well. I got my Urzeit vinyl in the mail yesterday and it's beautiful... I mean ugly!

There is only one Sauron. The Dutch one

Didn't someone once ask for Hellenic sounding black metal? Discovered Eibon from Singapore clicking through the artist profile of Abruptum's It, unfortunately there's a girl singing in parts but the rest sounds very early Rotting Christ mixed with Mystifier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRz4bC-zMlA

Speaking of the Hellenic sound, can anyone recommend some black/death with a Hellenic influence? I guess Weapon (Canada) would be a reference point of sorts for the sound I am seeking.

Sacriphyx should do the trick!

I've been listening lately to Enslaved for the first time in a very very long time. They have some really decent stuff in pretty much every era. I know their proggier sound is generally frowned upon but they still have some interesting things and even on the Trinacria album.

Borknagar's last album also came back to what I've been listening to at work. Just a fun album really.

for sure their post-, let's say, mardraum stuff is frowned upon by me, but I have a feeling that is what is generally more appreciated by the majority on this board, isn't it?

hordanes land is some of the best things ever released from norway.

Anyone ever listen to this Nadiwrath album from 2015? I overlooked it mostly because the first album was super punky, but this one is sooo good!

Another awesome album from Greece I just discovered by Akrotheism

Maybe it's just that Trinacria album I've never heard of that's frowned upon.

I want to get back into black metal as I've been largely out of the loop lately. Anything in particular, worth checking out? I'm not too fond of atmospheric/ambient stuff. Suggest something that is on the harsher side of the spectrum preferably with some techy riffing & grind/death metal aggression.

Some recent albums as a frame of reference:
Nightbringer - Terra Damnata (singles only, tbr in April)
Deathspell Omega - Synarchy of Molten Bones
Inquisition - ridiculously long album title
Urzeit - Anmoksha
Anaal Nathrakh - The Whole of the Law (if this counts that is)

Thanks in advance.

Aside from those 2 albums I posted a couple posts up I've been enjoying:
Insanity Cult - All around good, epic/aggressive black metal
VI - Like DSO if they had catchy riffs
White Death - kvlt new album
Dumal - Really impressive USBM sort of Sargeistish
Murg - Still one of my favorite new bands from the last few years
Obitus - New 45 minute single song album is incredible, these guys are fairly "tech"

Can find links to all of them on my collection here https://bandcamp.com/sick6six
Most are close to the top, Murg is further down

I'm just wondering but are there any technical black metal bands?

Well the genre search comes up with this:
http://www.metal-archives.com/search?se ... band_genre

But I'm not familiar with any of them myself so I'm going to recommend something else. Here's Abyssal's Denouement album.



It has elements of stuff that isn't black metal, but I still think that that element is the main root of their sound. Super technical and very dark sounding.

Singularity can be considered that but it's more like tech death with raspy high vocals.

Abigor is some of the craziest bm I've heard, the MA genre tag doesn't do them justice imo.

Then there is stuff like contemporary Deathspell Omega.

Enthean mixes tech death with Dimmu Borgir-esque bombast & Emperor-ish melodies.
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Also, thanks for the recs Sick6Six!

Yeah, I've really been enjoying this one as well. These guys have a real knack for writing excellent riffs and melodies and putting them into well-penned, memorable tracks. The whole album flows excellently and the individual songs are super memorable, too. One of the best plain ol' black metal bands to come out in the US (or anywhere) in a good while.

Agree completely! Revenant of Sarkrista actually told me about them a month or 2 ago... I've gotten lots of good suggestions from him. The album flows perfectly, 'Serpents in the Bramble' always seems to kick ass by the time I get to that song.

iamntbatman: Apropos, are you a fan of Ragnarok? I just put on some (Collectors Of the King), and it struck me again how well this seems to combine elements of Finnish and Norwegian black metal. For a fan of Taake as well as a bunch of Finnish black metal, this band really captures the aggression and energy of the former, as well as uses that same rustic, melancholy riffing as the latter.

Interesting you mention Ragnarok, I didn't even notice they came out with a new album last year until a couple weeks ago. Their last few albums have never stuck with me very well, but I think 'Collectors' was maybe the best of their newer death metal style. I also just found this band called Abyssgale, and Ragnarok was one of the bands I was drawing similarities to (probably more than Marduk who I compared them to on the little Bandcamp blurb I wrote) but damn I cannot believe how good this is! https://abyssgale-official.bandcamp.com/album/hegemon Their FB says they are recording a new album right now which I'm already looking forward to.

I'm so glad I clicked on that bandcamp link! I was thinking about putting on some Marduk but this is better...a lot better actually. Be it vocals, riffing, or drumwork everything goes hard as fuck here!

Happy to help my friend

Looking for a few things.

Progressive black metal. I am a huge DSO fan. Paracletus is one of my all time favorite albums. Any help would be appreciated.

What is the best place to track down demos these days? I am aware of Bandcamp and I am a fan but looking for other options.

Check out VI - De Praestigiis Angelorum. It's somewhat more straightforward, but if you like Paracletus, you will probably like this as well.

Vehementer Nos is some pretty good French progressive black metal you may enjoy.

I need some LOUD super powerful black metal, preferably up tempo

^^ Try some Haemoth, if you haven't already.

https://dmp666.bandcamp.com/album/kontamination

Not bad, definitely loud as fuck. Wish the drums were more, prominent I guess?

my example is this

Huh, for some reason I've had this band bookmarked for years but never actually listened to them. Diabolical Age is really great stuff. Definitely very Taake-ish. I guess just another example of a great band lost to that void of late 90's/early 2000's black metal oversaturation. I actually think it's really interesting/funny that Hoest was in this band for a while, during the era where they had probably some of the worst album art ever in the history of black metal.

I remember listening to Diabolical Age driving from California to Chicago over 10 years ago... 'The Heart of Satan' is such an epic mid-paced song, brings back memories. They don't sound like the same band at all anymore, nothing on the new album is grabbing me aside from the chorus riff of 'Infernal Majesty'

Edit: Also for the similar to DSO question, there's this coming out in a couple weeks: https://dodecahedronsom.bandcamp.com/album/kwintessens

I also love that VI album which I just recently discovered and they have a re-recorded EP coming out any day now also.

I'm in search of bands that sound like, or are very inspired by early Manes. I just love the slow, eerie atmosphere those guys created on their demos and first full length. I am aware of their new project Manii, and while it's good, I'd like to know if there's maybe some other bands out there that play that style.

Yup, Blackdoor Miracle has the worst album cover of any actually great album I've ever heard, I'd wager.

Does anyone have recommendations for "happy" black metal? I guess I'm thinking of a black metal version of Lykathea Aflame.

Off the top of my head, Barathrum's "Saatana" has some pretty upbeat tracks, specially the title-track.

^Some Sielunvihollinen maybe? https://sielunvihollinen.bandcamp.com/album/hautaruhtinas

Continuing the random suggestions I just found 2 bands that are totally kicking ass right now.

Don't know how I found this, but it's got the darkest, densest atmosphere while also being full of excellent guitar leads and other surprises. I really love this little gem of an EP: https://imhatarikat.bandcamp.com/album/kenoboros-ep

More straightforward, raw, aggressive and hateful stuff: https://vidargangr.bandcamp.com/album/a-world-that-has-to-be-opposed

Could some one give me some "trve" black metal that sounds like this please?