Features
Not everything we write is a review or an interview. Sometimes we dig into a scene, break down a genre, or go off about something that does not quite fit anywhere else. Scene reports, country guides, genre deep dives. That kind of stuff ends up here.
Tolkien and Black Metal: (Part 3)
Tolkien and Black Metal (Part 3) examines how Summoning became the single most important Tolkien-themed black metal entity.
Tolkien and Black Metal: (Part 2)
Tolkien and Black Metal (Part 2) examines how 90s second-wave Norwegian bands like Burzum, Gorgoroth, and Isengard mined Middle-earth lore.
Black Metal: Mapping the First Wave
Explore the chaotic, international origins of first wave black metal across 1980s regional scenes, tape trading, and extreme metal evolution.
Tolkien and Black Metal: A History (Part 1)
Tolkien and Black Metal: A History (Part 1) explores the origins and deep links between Middle-earth's darkness and black metal's worldview.
10 Atmospheric Black Metal Albums you need to hear.
Explore 10 essential atmospheric black metal albums you need to hear, featuring classics from Burzum, Summoning, Agalloch, Drudkh, and more.
10 Underrated Black Metal Albums
Explore 10 underrated black metal classics you missed. A curated list featuring hidden gems from Troll, Ragnarok, Kvist, Setherial, and more.