Ivan Tibos.

I have always liked what Irish act Wreck Of The Hesperus did in the past. But somehow, I sort of ‘lost’ them after their split with fellow countrymen Mourning Beloveth. But the Aesthetic Death office did offer us the Light Rotting Out album, so there is no reason not to review this master piece, despite being ‘old’, i.e. released almost four years ago. It’s not because I am such a sweet human entity only; I just think that good stuff deserves what it deserves (if you know what I mean).

The history of Finnish outfit Uhriristi goes back to 2011, when Rutto and Samael decided to write some blackish stuff in their mother tongue. With Synti and Räyhähenki joining their ranks, Uhriristi recorded the demo Petetty (self-release on CD-r). Then they (were) contacted (by) Mortis Humanae Productions, and this label re-released that demonstrational effort on tape in 2012.

The Italian trio Nyx (A. Sathsiva, S. Flagellyon and G. Azelyoth) recorded this new album at the Sottomarino Giallo Rec Service studio during summer 2014, with mixing / mastering assistance of Luis Varo. The result, called Hairesis and, unfortunately, lasting for only half an hour (and some seconds, all right), gets released by two of my preferred East-European labels, i.e. Vacula Productions and Satanath Records.

Belgian quartet Bones (Stef Aertsen, Jeroen De Pauw, Viktor Walschaerts and Lukas Huybrechts) started in 2011, and in 2012 they released a first demo, which was released on vinyl too somewhat later. In mean time, the band was able to perform live on stage with the likes of Obituary, Necrowretch, Undergang, Morbus Chron, Master and many more.

I hadn’t heard of the Malaysian horde Blasphmachine before, but apparently this trio is pretty known in their home country and Singapore. With Exhumation, Savage Deity and Shambles, they released a live-split taken from a tour in both countries. Anyway, Blasphmachine did write and record a handful of tracks in their two-three years of existence, and two of them have now been compiled under the working title Oath.

Finally! The first release of Belgian horde Ars Veneficium! All together: joepie! Why such enthusiasm? Well, actually I need to do so, because this is one of the bands Immortal Frost Productions’ Surtur is involved with, so I cannot but be positive…

I am aware of a handful of (sometimes really interesting) acts from Kazakhstan, but I didn’t know Detention. However, apparently this project did release a first album in 2013, called Coma, via (mighty) No Remorse Records (British, but based in Gibraltar). But as said, this is my first acquaintance with Detention. It seems to be a project, a solo-outfit, by a guy called Yeldar Rakishev.

I have always appreciated two aspects of French label Distant Voices; the projects signed to their roster, and the physical aspect of each single release. When it comes to the first, the projects, well, I’d like to refer to the reviews I wrote for Arbre, Misery, Brouillard or Scars From A Dead Room. Without exception, all of them do please undersigned’s ear drums and mental state.

Well well well, I thought this Italian band did split up a couple of years ago, but apparently it wasn’t but a temporary break. That’s fantastic news, but the best thing is: Absentia Lunae return with a new full length studio recording!

It is not that unusual anymore that a (Black) Metal band uses violin or viola in its songs. But in this case it’s a violin player that formed a Black Metal project, i.e. a guy called Ecnerual. Under the Mourning Mist moniker, he recorded this self-titled six-track studio album, assisted by several colleagues amongst whom bass player Kvasir, known from e.g. Abhor, Spiritual, Profezia or Ancient Supremacy.