Check 'Em All: August’s and September’s black metal releases

For a new Check 'Em All material, we selected more than 30 releases that came out in August and September of this year. The compilation includes records from Archgoat, Devilish Impressions, and Wolves in the Throne Room, new music from performers who have collaborated with Aeternus, Gaahls Wyrd, Gorgoroth, and Dimmu Borgir, as well as EPs and LPs from the bands of Belarus, Germany, Finland, Norway, Poland, Israel, Iran, Italy, France, the USA, and Chile.

Also, do not miss our previous black metal selections that were published in January, February, March, May, June, July, and check out Nabaath's "Firestorm Bringer" EP released on August 17 via Noizr Productions.

Akvan — "Forgotten Glory"

"Forgotten Glory" is the first full-length album from Akvan, a project created by Iranian musician Dominus Vizaresa. Iran is one of the countries in the Middle East region, where the death penalty is widely used, including for such crimes as blasphemy (last year, the members of the band Confess were arrested here for performing "satanic" music). Like most releases of oriental bands, "Forgotten Glory" is closely interwoven with folk music, the album features both typical chants as well as parts performed on setar and tar.

Arallu — "Six"

"Six" is the sixth album from quite a curious Israeli metal act Arallu which combines black metal with traditional oriental motifs, including using of such instruments as saz (lute) and drum darbuka during recording. The band was formed in the late 90's, and at the moment the only member of its original lineup is the bassist/vocalist Butchered, who has previously acted as a Melechesh live bassist.

Archgoat — "Eternal Damnation Of Christ"

"Eternal Damnation Of Christ" is a new EP from the cult Finnish black metal act Archgoat. The 10-minute record was released in a limited edition on the 7-inch EP, which can only be purchased at the band's concerts.

Battle Dagorath — "II — Frozen Light of Eternal Darkness"

This year, the Swiss-American duo Battle Dagorath presented the second part of last year's album "I — Dark Dragons of the Cosmos". According to the description, the new release is "a journey through the fields beyond these horizons, exploring realms of the deep dimensions". Below are two tracks from the album, "Death Ov Aeons" and "Asteres Planetai".

Botanist — "Collective: The Shape of He to Come"

"Collective: The Shape of He to Come" is a latest album from the American project Botanist, created by musician and journalist Roberto Martinelli. This is very psychedelic, but atmospheric release which surely will appeal to fans of avant-garde music.

Celephaïs — "Monad"

"Monad" is the second album from the German one-man band Celephaïs, released after a 5-year break. The projects performs an instrumental post-metal with black metal features.

Celeste — "Infidèle(s)"

"Infidèle(s)" is the fifth full-length record from the French project Celeste, combining in its music elements of post-hardcore, sludge, and black metal. From October to December, with small breaks, the band will be on tour in Europe, within which will give three gigs in Ukraine.

Cormorant — "Diaspora"

"Diaspora" is the fourth album by Cormorant, the American band which plays a melodic progressive black/death metal. The record was mastered by Brad Boatright who has previously worked with Sunn O))).

Crafteon — "Cosmic Reawakening"

"Cosmic Reawakening" is the debut album of the American metal act Crafteon which lyrics are based on the works of science fiction writer Howard Lovecraft.

Devilish Impressions — "The I"

"The I" is the fourth album of the Polish black/death metallers Devilish Impressions. According to the press release, "The I" is not only "a phonetic acronym of the band’s name, but above all it reflects the manifesto they stand for since its inception in the year 2000 – the notion of freedom of choice and will". In addition to Devilish Impressions members, the recording was also attended by special guests — guitarist Mike Wead (Mercyful Fate, King Diamond) and vocalist Ares (Aeternus).

Drouth — "Knives, Labyrinths, Mirrors"

"Knives, Labyrinths, Mirrors" is the first full-length record by the American band Drouth from Portland, Oregon. Musicians combine black with sludge metal, complementing this mix with aggressive vocals.

Druadan Forest — "The Lost Dimension"

"The Lost Dimension" is another release in our selection produced by an one-man band. The Finnish musician Ville Pallonen froze his project Druadan Forest for a whole 17 years, having managed to release only a few demos during 1 year of its existence. In 2016, Pallonen again brought the project back to life, presenting several releases, one of which, the epically sounding album "The Lost Dimension" with dominant orchestral parts, came out at the end of this September.

Dymna Lotva — "Палын"

"Wormwood" is the EP from the Minsk-based act Dymna Lotva, performing black/doom metal in Belarusian language. The band’s new release is dedicated to the liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.

Falaise — "My Endless Immensity"

"My Endless Immensity" is the second full-length album in the discography of the Italian duo Falaise, playing atmospheric post-black with a catchy melodies and vocal parts which chill you by their harshness. Among the similar novelties, the album stands out with its skillfulness and good production.

Fornhem — "Ett Fjärran Kall"

"Ett Fjärran Kall" is the debut release from the Swedish duo Fornhem. According to its drummer Vafthrudner, the band's "aim is to make music that moves forward, even if it's minimal and repetitive, and we think that adding something or making small alterations in a riff or chord progression makes it come alive and breathe".

Gravdal — "Kadaverin"

After a 7-year hiatus, the Norwegian quartet Gravdal, founded in 2015 by the musician Phobos (Aeternus, Gorgoroth’s live member), released a new full-length album "Kadaverin". The recording of the release took place with renewed lineup, featuring guitarist Saur (Dominanz) and vocalist/bassist ELD (Krakow, Aeternus, Gaahls Wyrd). Also, some parts on the album were performed by invited guests — musicians of Satyricon, Taake, SAHG, The Ruins of Beverast, Seven Impale, and Orkan. "Kadaverin" lyrics were written by V'gandr from Helheim and Taake. The full album stream is available on Deezer.

Grift — "Arvet"

"Arvet" is the second full-length release from the solo project Grift, created by the Swedish musician Erik Gärdefors. To record some parts, Gärdefors used the old Swedish instrument, Psalmodikon, which was used mostly during the 19th century in poor Swedish congregations.

In 2016, Grift also released a joint split "Betrayed by the Sun/Hägringar (Mirages)" with Ukrainians Drudkh.

Hermóðr — "Saknad" и "As One with These Woods"

An idol of many black metal elitists, the Swedish project Hermóðr, has already present 5 releases during this year — 1 full-length album and 4 EPs. Below we publish two EPs "Saknad" and "As One with These Woods", released in August and September, accordingly.

Hexis — "XII"

"XII" is a new EP from the Danish band Hexis, combining in its dark and atmospheric music black metal with post-hardcore.

In Twilight's Embrace — "Vanitas"

"Vanitas" is the fourth album from the Polish metal act In Twilight's Embrace. If the music on the band’s early releases could be described as a melodic death metal with metalcore features, then in time its sound began to obtain more and more gloomy colors. Nowadays In Twilight's Embrace’s has almost no core elements left, instead of it, there is an atmospheric black metal with melodic guitar parts.

Mist of Misery — "Shackles Of Life by Mist of Misery"

"Shackles Of Life by Mist of Misery" is the first release from the EP series, created by Swedish melodic black metallers Mist of Misery between 2016 and mid-2017, as a way to bridge the gap between "Absence" and the upcoming 2018's album. The release's opening and title song was recorded with Thy Light's frontman Paolo Bruno, whose vocals can also be heard on the title track of another one band's EP "Fields Of Isolation".

Mogh — "Gach Pazh"

"Gach Pazh" is the sixth full-length album released by the German-Iranian trio Mogh 8 years after the release of their last LP "Allaho Asghar". The group expresses its protest against religion in general, and Islam in particular. Mogh's lyrics are also centered around topics such as zurvanism, war, occultism and thelema (spiritual philosophy developed by Aleister Crowley).

Lascar — "Saudade"

"Saudade" is a harsh and gloomy release from an one-man band Lascar. Its creator is Gabriel Hugo, a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist from Chile.

Nyss — "Princesse Terre (Three Studies of Silence and Death)"

"Princesse Terre (Three Studies of Silence and Death)" is the first full-length release in the discography of the French experimental project Nyss. Atmospheric work, which mastering was handled by Dan Lowndes (Sigh, Shaman Ritual, Pallbearer).

Sheidim — "Infamata"

"Infamata" is a new EP from the Spanish band Sheidim, playing a mix of black and death metal. The release, mastered by the previously mentioned Dan Lowndes, came out in the middle of September via I, Voidhanger Records.

Tarask — "No sleep for the twice born"

"No sleep for the twice born" is an amazing melodic release, with excellent arrangements and quality production, from the French project Tarask. There is no much information on the Internet about the band, as well as its creator, it’s only known that the musician calls himself Lazharus, and defines the genre of his project as "Melodic Black-Death metal". Roughly speaking, this album "shows", how would have been sounded the best representatives of the Swedish melodic death metal scene, if they added more black metal features into their music.

The Wake — "Earth's Necropolis"

The German-Romanian project The Wake presented at the end of September its debut full-length "Earth's Necropolis" which, according to the description, is the result of 8 years of work. In addition, the band claims that their main goal is "to show the world that black metal returns with simplicity, but great passionate songwriting, proving a high intensity capable to reach big audiences again".

Urarv — "Aurum"

The avant-garde release "Aurum" from the project Urarv, created by the guitarist/vocalist Aldrahn — former live member of Dimmu Borgir (1995), who has also written the lyrics to Dimmu Borgir’s songs as "Unorthodox Manifesto", "Stormblåst", and "Vinder fra en ensom grav", and Darkthrone’s "The Beast".

Witches Moon — "A Swing of Sickle to Summers Dawn"

"A Swing of Sickle to Summers Dawn" is an atmospheric EP from the American solo project Witches Moon, created by a performer named The Witch from the city of Raleigh, North Carolina. From the middle of July, a fruitful musician has presented 5 different releases, including 1 demo, 3 LPs and the previously mentioned EP "A Swing of Sickle to Summers Dawn".

Wolves in the Throne Room — "Thrice Woven"

"Thrice Woven" is the sixth album from the American band Wolves in the Throne Room, formed by the brothers Aaron Weaver and Nathan Weaver. The release was produced by the band members and WITTR longtime producer Randall Dunn (Sunn O))), Myrkur). Follow the link to watch the video on the album’s opening track "Born From The Serpent's Eye".

Xanthochroid — "Of Erthe and Axen: Act I" и "Act II"

In August and October this year, the American metal act Xanthochroid, which defines its style as cinematic black metal, has presented two parts of the new album — "Of Erthe and Axen: Act I" and "Of Erthe and Axen: Act II". According to the description, both acts are "a prequel to the tales woven throughout Xanthochroid's earlier releases". In terms of music, the listener should expect an epic black metal with numerous choir insertions, orchestrations and pure vocal parts, and in terms of lyrics — an immersion in a world where such concepts as love, jealousy, magic, war, and deceit rule. Below we publish both parts of the album.