Review: Highgate - Highgate

The first thing that strikes about HIGHGATE is the similarity to bands such as KHANATE, OTESANEK, NEGATIVE REACTION, STUMM, WRECK OF THE HESPERUS and GRIEF. However the most striking similarity is to KHANATE certainly when bearing in mind their slower, more abstract offering of “Things Viral”; the style of vocals HIGHGATE use is very much in this vein, in fact astoundingly so, though perhaps less restrained and a little more tormented than KHANATE (that is just about possible!). “Highgate” is basically a combination of Sludge, Black Metal and Doom Metal with a few elements of Noise, Drone and synth experimentation thrown in here and there plus the sort of sampling you would expect from EYEHATEGOD in places. The album consists of one long track of almost an hour in length so a moderate degree of perseverance and patience is needed when giving it a listen and therefore... Post Continued Here

Review: Faal - Abhorrence - Salvation

I first consciously became aware of Post-Rock influences in Black Metal through bands such as CAÏNA, (later) DEATHSPELL OMEGA and FEN. When I first started following Black Metal around a decade ago, the thought of combining two such genres would have seemed hugely unlikely, however, the combination is complimentary, beautifully atmospheric and enthralling. After discovering CAÏNA I became totally hooked on this approach to Black Metal and so FAAL was a mandatory purchase. Although FAAL do combine Black Metal and Post-Rock influences, there is also a strong element of dark, funeral Doom making them stand apart in terms of originality and innovation. There surely can’t be many bands around writing Funeral Doom that incorporates classically arranged Post-Rock structures! It’s obvious from the onset that FAAL have put a great deal of work and careful contemplation into the four... Post Continued Here