Nightspell--Darkness Spreads Around CD/CS {Gobemouche Productions/Canti Eritici Productions}

This Ukrainian act gives us their third EP since 2024, which is remarkably prolific given the condition of their country at the moment. I can't imagine what it's like to keep a band going while your country is at war with another nation so close to their border. It must be difficult. But it also must be a relief to spend time with a musical project to take the mind off the horrors of the war. In fact, the first song after the intro on this record is called "Endless War." Nightspell plays classic 1990s style black metal with somber riffs and harsh growls, but they know a few tricks. Clean vocals of soaring melody make an appearance on the song "Cold Ground," and they add to the haunting atmosphere of the track. They appear again on the song "Green Knight." I can't understand Ukrainian (I'm relying on English translation of lyrics here), but the language sounds great over metal, much like English does. The harsh sounds of our languages make the music even better. The production is very clean and all instruments are played with striking professionalism for this being a one-man project. This is a unique enough take on traditional black metal that should please most fans of the old guard. It's worth tracking down.

cantieriticiproductions.limitedrun.com

gobemoucheproduction.com

nightspell1.bandcamp.com

Wintermoon--Cold Sky Rising CD {Percussive Spectre}

Their first full length after two EPs, one of which goes all the way back to 2013, Wintermoon gives us Immortal-worshipping black metal of a high caliber. The whole album is pure Immortal worship from riffs to vocals to the themes of cold and ice. It's very good stuff. They do throw us a few curveballs that aren't exactly in the Immortal canon, like the way they play their solos and some of the songwriting. Their guitars also don't have mountains of effects on them like Abbath's. They have an almost power metal-like sense of melody at times, too, when it comes time for a melodic passage, rather like the band Forefather from the UK. I also hear tinges of Bathory's viking metal albums in some spoken word passages and atmospheric pieces throughout the album. I don't mind clone bands at all, because everyone has an idea of what metal should sound like, and these gents think it should sound like Immortal. That's perfectly ok to do. I enjoyed this one immensely, and it's a fine accomplishment for the band. It's worth repeated listens.

wintermoon.bandcamp.com