Reviews
At Black Metal Zine (BMZ), we review albums that deserve to be in the spotlight. May that be a new band that just started and released their first EP or album, or a settled name that has been around for ages. If we enjoy the release, we will try our best to review it.
Review: Theosophy - Line Before the Event Horizon (2026)
Theosophy - Line Before the Event Horizon (9/10). Black Metal from Russia. Philosophical lyrics over thick, rough black metal.
Review: Thede - Whet the Keen Axes (2026)
Thede - Whet the Keen Axes (7.5/10). Black Metal from the UK. A one-off project with no vocals, industrial edges and a Matrix-scene closer.
Review: Ethyl - Deuil Vert (2026)
Ethyl - Deuil Vert (8.5/10). Black Metal from Canada. The Quebec one-man project's third album is a deep dive into a troubled mind.
Review: Vredensdal - Mystery & Power (2026)
Vredensdal - Mystery & Power (9/10). Blackened Metal from the USA. Riffing away like no one's business: this album is a sonic reset.
Review: SRPNTS - Second Skin (2026)
SRPNTS - Second Skin (8/10). Occult Black Metal from Germany. Solve et coagula: destroy the old form. Catchy riffs, suffocating atmosphere.
Review: Autumn Strife - Romance (2026)
Autumn Strife - Romance (9/10). Black Metal from the US. Ragtime-era Midwestern black metal you can waltz to. Evil Midwestern glory.
Review: GAROTA - Strąceni w Ciemność (2026)
GAROTA - Strąceni w ciemność (7.5/10). Atmospheric Black Metal from Poland. Brutal f*ck-you black metal straight to the jugular. Don't snooze.
Review: Imlad Morgul - Star of Glamdring (2026)
Imlad Morgul - Star of Glamdring (7.5/10) Tolkienian black metal from the United States.
Review: Boötes Void - Panta Rhei (2026)
Boötes Void - Panta Rhei (7.5/10) Black metal from Germany. Back with their third full-length album, Boötes Void breaks their silence after three years of no releases, with melodies, ambiences, aggression, and a far more refined sound.
Review: Warmoon Lord - Deófol-Cræft EP (2026)
Warmoon Lord - Deófol-Cræft EP (8/10). Black Metal from Finland. Vrajitor strips the grandeur for something darker, dirtier and more immediate.
Review: Stellar Rot - Where the Formless Ones Dwell (2026)
Stellar Rot - Where the Formless Ones Dwell (9.5/10). Atmospheric Black Metal from the US. A Grimdark debut that pulls you in and blows you away.
Review: Hornblower - The Last Trumpeter (2026)
Hornblower - The Last Trumpeter (7.5/10). Canadian medieval BM in the vein of Godkiller, with raw 90s guitars and bombastic synth. Read more!
Review: Sigh - Goh-Ka (2026)
Sigh - Goh-Ka (9.5/10). A theatrical Japanese black metal epic blending folk, prog, and symphonic chaos with extraordinary control. Read more!
Live Review: Tynebound Festival (2026)
Live Review: Tynebound Festival (2026). Reaper Agency's third fest of 2026 at Anarchy Brewery, Newcastle. Two days, stellar line up. Read more!
Review: Wizards Alter - Delusions in Fire (2026)
Wizards Alter - Delusions in Fire (6/10). US solo raw BM with real riffs and tight writing, undercut by a distractingly thin mix. Read more!
Review: Skuggor - The Expanse (2026)
Skuggor - The Expanse (8.5/10). Australian solo atmospheric BM with strings, ambience, and Summoning-like contemplation. Read more!
Review: Ghül - Shadow of Grief (2026)
Ghül - Shadow of Grief (8/10). UK one-man raw BM channeling Tolkien's darkest tale, The Children of Húrin, with Burzum-esque grimness. Read more!
Review: Clamosum - Gnosis Absolute (2026)
Clamosum - Gnosis Absolute (7.5/10). Finnish atmospheric BM debut with synth-heavy melodies and melancholy, recalling early Gehenna. Read more!
Review: Noir Sire - Upon the Svlfvr Path (2026)
Noir Sire - Upon the Svlfvr Path (7/10). French one-man melodic black metal with second-wave worship and early Dissection vibes. Read more!
The Infernal Records: Short Reviews (Volume 1)
Infernal Records: Short Reviews. Verikaste, Peste Negra, Svorght, Paradogmata, and Tabernakel — five underground gems in short form. Read more!