Welcome back to our new monthly segment, Under/Current. Here we will cover the music we currently find inspirational, the music we look forward to in the near future, and what we are currently listening to.
J.C.L
Currently Inspirational:

By far the most mysterious and esoteric album put forth this year. Only released to a small circle of people at a private gathering, it’s still a mystery whether this was going to see a full release or it would be forever limited to this circle of people. Well, someone has broken that silence, and I've managed to get a listen to the 2 hour long album. I do hope this gets a full release though, as it is deeply inspirational and haunting as always.
Currently looking forward to:
Wulfaz has just revealed their upcoming EP “Sotes Runer”, to be released 22nd of May, following up last year's "Eriks Kumbl".
Having already listened to it (Oh the benefits of being a reviewer) and without revealing to much, I can tell that this EP will see a review from our side.
Revenge - Strike.Smother.Dehumanize
Curiously, the 22nd of May is also the release day for the Canadian black metal act Revenge’s newest act of defilement: “Strike.Smother.Dehumanize”. Judging by this single, It’s much in the footsteps of their earlier work, which is only good. Just pure pounding and insult to injury for the world is what we’ll get
One of my favorite releases last year came from the Icelandic/German pagan black-act of Árstíðir lífsins, and already we can look forward to a follow-up to the first part of the saga... also on May 22nd.
A few days ago, they even released a split with Carpe Noctem, containing a 23-minute epic track from their hands, which is well worth the time to fill the wait.
Árstíðir lífsins - Saga á tveim tungum II: Eigi fjǫll né firðir
A few days ago, they even released a split with Carpe Noctem, containing a 23-minute epic track from their hands, which is well worth the time to fill the wait.
Listened to this week:
This is one of my newest finds, even though this danish one-man act has been around for a number of years, and I’ve tried to give it a listen a few times, not until now have I been drawn into this act. Very much on the more raw and sometimes only barely audible end of the scale, there is still the overwhelming elements of 90’s symphonic synth and more modern avantgarde stuff coming through to the listener. Imagine Covenant’s “In Times Before Light” re-interpreted by Blut aus Nord.
Echushkya - The Lanterne This EP by this Ohio-based one-man band was released while I was writing for this article. Having listened to it for the remainder of my writing process, I can definitely recommend it for fans of atmospheric black metal, in the same vein as Fuath or Panopticon with hints of Agalloch. Give it a try yourself here or at Bandcamp.
Echushkya - The Lanterne This EP by this Ohio-based one-man band was released while I was writing for this article. Having listened to it for the remainder of my writing process, I can definitely recommend it for fans of atmospheric black metal, in the same vein as Fuath or Panopticon with hints of Agalloch. Give it a try yourself here or at Bandcamp.
X.K
Currently Inspirational:
Tunes of Despair - The Process of Leaving
This time I’ve been back to the crumbling 2010, remembering one of my favorite releases among others within the Finnish black metal scene. Tunes of Despair have not been active for years but with their debut EP “The Process of Leaving” not much more needs to be added to their discography for keeping the spirit alive.
Currently looking forward to:
No introduction needed for this awakening pagan split that consists of three tracks by each of these two Australian old souls. Once again they demonstrate how it is accomplished. May 15th is its release date but if you want something to hold on to right now the teaser is revealed.
Since we already have been gifted with the two tracks ‘Self Segregation’ and ‘Salvation Smothered’ the 22nd of May will be a Friday to remember. After some pretty though releases in the past, the Canadian antichrist harsh approach that “Strike.Smother.Dehumanize” contains will be fitting right in there.
There is quite a distance between great or listenable black metal releases from Portugal, but 2020 has the true pleasure right here. We are not introduced to anything new although these three have followed entirely up to their debut record that came out six years ago while maintaining their original sound with a small amount of improved production. This record will be out this Friday and we will have a review ready of it before its release.
There is quite a distance between great or listenable black metal releases from Portugal, but 2020 has the true pleasure right here. We are not introduced to anything new although these three have followed entirely up to their debut record that came out six years ago while maintaining their original sound with a small amount of improved production. This record will be out this Friday and we will have a review ready of it before its release.
Listened to this week:
Nyrst - Orsök
Two days ago the Icelandic Dark Essence Records signed acts unleashed the debut record “Orsök” which draws melodic, sinister, and not to forget the Icelandic black metal sound that really sticks with the vocals, but Nyrst has more to offer and that is their touchy ritualistic image that appears remarkably clear when taken the trip down the forty-two minutes provided.
It has been about three months since the release of “Blodhævn” that at this point has grown on me to be one of my most heard Danish black metal albums. Their self-titled debut has had that role for years but this one took its place with how far they have reached creatively while still having their define sound with a definite development. It has reached my best 2020 list for now.

Lustre - The Ashes of Light
Beyond The Black - Wacken Open Air 2019 (Live Show)
Something a little out of my comfort zone took me by surprise when attending last year’s Wacken Open Air. On my way to cover my duty as a wacken photographer, my friend and I stopped by Beyond The Black that just started their show after playing the festival many times before. I myself fancy a small part of bands like Nightwish, which is not that far from these guys besides the extensive energy that was shown here throughout the show. This week I took a look back to that show and were again embraced of massive energy I think is missing for more and more shows these days.
Beyond The Black, Wacken Open Air 2019
Bonus: NOT Inspirational:
Red Warszawa - Lade (Greatest hits volume 7)
Red Warszawa has achieved a cult status that few danish bands could even hope to match. With their witty, drunken and humorous subject matters, and easily listenable (and often catchy) songs, they are something of a national treasure that only the Danes could love and understand. This, their newest effort, is barely anything of that. Gone are the charm, the catchy riffs, the production value (which has at least been above average on most of their records) and even the spark.
The years have not been kind on Red Warszawa, who sounds and feels like a band that’s ready to retire on “Lade”. The guitar sound is thin as paper and the vocals sound tired, joyless and recorded through a wall. The worst offender is the drums. Even though there is a drummer-credit, the drums sound like the most sterile drum-program was given Lars Ulrich’s drum kit from “St. Anger”, and told to sound as robotic as possible. Just atrocious. Going through this album is neither pleasurable, entertaining, sing-along worthy or.. well, anything really, aside from a few giggles here and there. Of course, we know that Red Warszawa was never a bastion of high quality production, but their previous efforts always had something, be it humorous commentary, headbanging riffs, drunken stupor or just plain heart. This is a band that has become like a bland and badly done parody of themselves. This is therefore the review they deserve for that effort.
Red Warszawa - Lade (Greatest hits volume 7)

The years have not been kind on Red Warszawa, who sounds and feels like a band that’s ready to retire on “Lade”. The guitar sound is thin as paper and the vocals sound tired, joyless and recorded through a wall. The worst offender is the drums. Even though there is a drummer-credit, the drums sound like the most sterile drum-program was given Lars Ulrich’s drum kit from “St. Anger”, and told to sound as robotic as possible. Just atrocious. Going through this album is neither pleasurable, entertaining, sing-along worthy or.. well, anything really, aside from a few giggles here and there. Of course, we know that Red Warszawa was never a bastion of high quality production, but their previous efforts always had something, be it humorous commentary, headbanging riffs, drunken stupor or just plain heart. This is a band that has become like a bland and badly done parody of themselves. This is therefore the review they deserve for that effort.
Kommentarer
Send en kommentar