The return of the sinister forces

If someone that is into black metal was to take a break and crawl into his lair for a couple of months, he would find himself in front of several (un)pleasant and darkly delightful surprises by the time he would decide to crawl back into the autumn half-light. 

Trying to put some of the noteworthy releases that have captured my attention this last few months, I would have to start with non other than Ofermod and their second full length, Thaumiel. One of the progenitors of the orthodox black metal wave that took the underground by storm some years back,  giving the much needed rotten and disgusting kiss of life to a stagnant and safe genre, returns with a record that already divides opinions and will probably do so more in the future.

Tiamtü, their first proper album, worked in me like a slowly acting poison. My first response to it was somewhat lukewarm as it was nothing like I expected it to be like. I realise that I wasn't the only one within that frame of mind. Most of the people were expecting something along the lines of  Mystérion Tés Anomias and Tiamtü was a beast that was rising standing strong on its own feet. Given time and after persistent listening the record revealed its horrible fruits that made it the classic that (at least) I consider it to be today. Above every other attribute, above the darkness and passion that record emanated, what made it stand above the pile of contemporary releases, was the infectious power of the songs. One of the rare occasions that one can use the word 'songs' talking about black metal, instead of talking about 'tracks'. Songs and riffs that would stay in your mind after the first few listenings. Infecting it, poisoning it, making you come back for more. The ones that didn't give the record a chance lost the opportunity to breath some of the air of a modern classic. Their fucking loss.

Thaumiel now works in a different way. It acts in a much more instant manner. After all, everyone should know by now, that expecting a repetition of Mystérion Tés Anomias would be pointless. Yes, there are already plenty of morons that wish that Ofermod would go fourteen years back to make them happy. But Ofermod do not exist to please such moronic demands. Thaumiel continues from the point we were left after Tiamtü's last echoes. More ritualistic that its predecessor, with an equally competent execution, exuding the dark magic feeling it aims to, staying away from the plastic modern standards,  Thaumiel rekindles the black flame in the heart of black metal. One more jewel on this years black crown that shines with records from Mgła, Dødsengel, Svartidauði and a worthy competitor for them all.

The list that follows contains some of the releases that I consider to be at the same level as Thaumiel and there will possibly be further reference in the future.

Don't hold your breath though...

Svartidauði - Flesh Cathedral

Dark Opus - Ignominious Fundamentals

Nocturnal Vomit - Cursed Relics

Weapon - Embers and Revelations

Atriarch - Ritual of Passing

Regulus - Ενθάδε Κείται

Godless - Via Crucis

Arktau Eos - Ioh-Maera

AMSG

O Ancient immortal Spirit...

      ...pure father

Of beauty, of greatness and of truth,

Descend, reveal yourself and flash like lightning here,

within the glory of your own earth and sky.

At running and at wrestling and at throwing,

Shine in the momentum of noble contests,

And crown with the unfading branch

And make the body worthy and ironlike. 

Plains, mountains and seas glow with you

Like a white-and-purple great temple,

And hurries every nation,

at the temple here, your pilgrim,

O Ancient immortal Spirit. 

The Olympic Anthem, with lyrics by Greek poet Kostis Palamas.

I was wandering whether I am the only one that is sick and tired of watching dozens of africans disguised as british, participating at the olympics under the flag of great britain. There's nothing too humiliating in the pursuit of some more medals.

This is not anything new, of course. It's a common practise. 

What bothers me the most is that at the same time, the british prime minister threatens to close the country's borders to the greeks seeking job in england. 
It makes sense... greeks are not black, they cannot run extremely fast, jump high and far or throw stuff in great distance. They are just citizens of united (ha ha) europe, trying to find job in one of the countries that are ruining theirs, each and every day.Thus, they are a nuisance.

Here's to the death of europe.

Your pillars are colapsing...

Degial - Death's Striking Wings

Crebain - Night of Stormcrow

Dead Can Dance - Anastasis

Goatmoon - Varjot

The Howling Wind - Of Babalon

The earth is trembling...

Paint your summer in black

Deathspell Omega cause frustration and nervousness to the safe thinking 'underground' majority. As usual.
Witchrist and Wrathprayer are blackening the world with their occult, ritualistic death metal.
The mechanical assault of Blacklodge leaves only corpses, behind...
...And The Howling Wind shred the last signs of hope into pieces, with one of the best black metal records ever to emerge from the usa.
Of course the best ones to come from those shores are the ones that close this fucking post along with my most hateful thoughts and curses.

Sick fuck

The times are fucking sick. This fucked up shitholle is boiling...and for a good reason.
Those who disrespect the roots of Europe will regret it sooner or later.
Those shaking their pointer finger in a threatening manner will see that finger cut off and fed to the dogs.
Fuck you.




Militia...

Master - The New Elite
Thy Darkened Shade - Eternvs Mos Nex Ritvs
Der Sturmer - Transcendental Racial Idealism
Castle - Blacklands
Beherit - Celebrate the Dead
Kommandant - The Draconian Archetype


Curses and hate to everyone...

ΣΑΤΑΝΑΣ

http://thisispast.blogspot.com
ΣΑΤΑΝΑΣΣΑΤΑΝΑΣΣΑΤΑΝΑΣΣΑΤΑΝΑΣΣΑΤΑΝΑΣΣΑΤΑΝΑΣΣΑΤΑΝΑΣ

The Beast awakens...
Dødsengel - Imperator
Fields of the Nefilim - Ceromonies
This is Past - Μισανθρωπία
Pseudogod - Deathwomb Catechesis
Aldebaran - Embracing The Lightless Depths

AMSG

Imperator

You have been told that black metal is dead with no hope of delivering anything new, exciting and interesting.

You have been brainwashed, mostly by scribes of american origin and european late comers-indy kids, that black metal is nothing more than a music style, just like any other. Anyone can and has the right to mess with it, they said. 

You have witnessed a fair amount of downfalls and possibly uncountable disappointments.

You have been more than tolerant with clueless kinds and fucking imbeciles, from all over the world, that have been desecrating an art form that has been crucial for your sanity, your development and your spiritual advancement. 

You have seen mongoloids like Liturgy in their flowery shirts, taking black metal's name in vain and not being thrown into Kaiadas in order to cleanse one more stain in the filth that is the human kind.

The omens were gathering...Something great was bound to happen.

The skies roared, the earth trembled and the beast with the countless heads, that is Imperator was unleashed upon us.

Yes you fucking morons...Black metal is dead...Black metal is just like any other kind of music...Anyone has the right to create within the borders that define black metal.

Now, you can just die a painful death an vanish from the face of this earth, just to let us become one with Dødsengel 's crowning achievement.

I shall say more, when I am ready to do so.

AMSG

Imagination and passion versus monomania and stagnation

At the same time that Mgła release one of the most important black metal records of the modern times, Vikernes manages to prove that he can make a record even more boring than the two 'ambient' ones he recorded while he was in jail.
On their second full album Mgła continue refining their craft, offering what is easily the best 'orthodox' black metal record of the last several months. Is With Hearts Toward None the band's magnum opus? Only time will tell but one can shiver at the thought that this is only a sign of what is to come in the future and not their crowning achievement. As always, Mgła number the album's tracks instead of naming them, not allowing the listener to view their creation as a mere collection of songs...and they have every right to do so. Every Mgła record is a holistic experience that cannot be separated in its individual features. One could comment the spiraling guitar riffs, the inhuman shamanic drum performance, the coldhearted, intelligent and almost calculated execution of their material that is at the same time passionate and full of absolute satanic devotion. Yet too much words wont do justice to this record. Mgła rely on the sheer power of their work and belief without need for too much talking, even with no need for any extravagant or fancy artwork.
'Have ye courage, o my brethren?' If yes, then respond to the band's challenge and you will not lose.

On the other hand Burzum's new record is a test for the listener's nerves. After the excellent Fallen, this one is by far the worst record by Vikernes. Too much talking, spoken word and laughable singing, no inspiration, no intelligence whatsoever consist the man's creative nadir. Once more his lyrical concerns are of absolutely no interest and irrelevant but this time his music is surprisingly boring, to the point that it is more effective than any sleeping pill you can find. On top of all these come his hilarious promotional photographs. This whole case doesn't deserve more words. I assume that even the average imbecile would have something more constructive to do than give a second chance to that record.