Bloedmaan

Vampyric War in Blood

Groovy, melodic, speedy and Gothic. Sound is crispy and pleasant to listen. Bloedmaan is Belgian one man band with fake drums. Songs have so much Swedish hook in them that it's hard not to like this.
Ok. MA mentions video games as lyrical theme. Sounds like Black Metal anyways if you don't actually listen the vocals.

Aara

Eiger

No mercy. Aara's new album penetrates through your ear canals like sharp peaks of the Swiss Alps. The album is real and groovy in majestic ways. It has valleys and cold speed in right balance. Its melodies and crushing blasts paint lucid picture of storm and chaos.
Hear it out.

Terrestrial Hospice

Caviary to the General

Emerging from the psyche of the Polish masterminds, Terrestrial Hospice triumphantly meets expectations with their latest album. Terrestrial Hospice's ice-cold yet infernal fiery reeking assured beating and consciousness-gnawing riffing weave excellently composed tracks which cast enduring shadows in the listener's mind.
As one delves into the album, it becomes clear that each note and chord is meticulously placed, creating a tapestry of sound that resonates with purpose. Caviary to the General is a firmly self-standing, an essential addition to the record collection of any connoisseur of Black Metal.

Blut aus Nord

Disharmonium - Nahab

From the first notes on I knew this will be honey for my ears. Blut aus Nord once again delivers an atmospheric masterpiece. Musically, the new album treads similar paths reminiscent of its predecessors, especially the previous one, while infusing a fresh dose of creativity into the mix. Blut aus Nord pushes limits of its nightmarish disharmonous art in very refined manner. The album maintains a cohesive body of work, and in established Blut Aus Nord fashion, offers an otherworldly listening experience.
Sonically, this album draws parallels to Disharmonium - Undreamable Abysses. It drills into your head, unlocks doors inside that you didn't even know existed. And sets you adrift on the currents of dark uncharted, boundless ocean.

Panzerchrist

Last of a Kind

Panzerchrist's new manic headbanger delivers you trip through decomposed soundscape. Despite this, there is lot of freshness in composing. This well oiled engine rolls over with groovy riffs and memorable melodies. Each song stands on its own and to my taste there are no weak ones. Album starts with strong Turn the Rack. Straight on punch in the face with trash metal vibes on solos. Another kicker, Baptized in Piss introduces more melodic side with most infectious ear worm on the album.
For those experiencing Panzerchrist for the first time on this album the initial listening response might very well be "hey is this another good metal band from Poland", but no, they originate from Denmark.
Panzerchrist has long history of high quality putrid output. Their new long waited album continues the tradition and brings forth warm feelings.

Ajattara

Lupaus

Lupaus is like you eat bag of mushrooms and then you want to kill eveyone. That's pretty much it. Do I have to say anything more.
Obviously Ajattara had/has lot of tricks left and this album is virile continuum in their discography. This time with little Spanish twist. And Ajattara sounds still real from all perspectives. For me more real than previous album. So maybe it was that the break came in right place here. Lupaus has nice variety between the songs and there's no weak ones in this set. With Lupaus it's pleasure to take rerun.
If you are not familiar to Ajattara's music yet I'll tell you that this band has managed to create their own sound. Ajattara's brutality is not in fast blast beats and furious tremolo picking riffs. It's in the lyrics and rotten atmosphere. Let it crawl in.
And as for the final note: the snare drum beats the shit out of you.

Kriegsmaschine

Enemy of Man

Kriegsmaschine's second full length Enemy of Man goes under trendy "religious Black Metal" genre. Album is well produced still sounding almost real and true. Almost because I left missing some raw corners to poke my senses. In recent years these kind of bands have repeated each other so badly and Enemy of Man stands out quite well from that mass. Vocals are close to their compatriot Nergal's style. No cookie monster here. There's also ballsy throat singing which fit in this kind of music like god's willy into virgin whore. Lyrical themes are at the core of the matter. Kind of straight forward non cryptic declaration.
Musically Enemy of Man locates in my ears somewhere between Behemoth and Arkhon Infaustus. Devout album starts with some church choir and ecstatic atmosphere keeps grip on listener with hypnotic guitars from the beginning to the end. I found best way to listen this is surprisingly laying on the couch in dark eyes closed. Another good purpose I can imagine could be as driving music. This has nice aggression within and soundscape is deep like it should be in this kind of mass.
Well. I made the note again that Poland churns out lot of master class musicians.
Over all the melodies and riffs are familiar. Not much new here. The album is just well built as whole. This power trio is pleasure to listen.

Ancient sphereS

Tales of Suwoh

First full length from Ancient sphereS Costa Rica. If I understood correctly these songs are about ancient culture of local Bribri tribes. I don't know how much damage christians have done for Costa Rica's old traditions but I found lot of similarities in this to example Taake and their respect to their own roots. Musically this is I'd say talented. Songs are alive. They are full of hooking melodies and blast beat and attitude. Just like their Taake colleague in Norway.
At first I wasn't too impressed of the guitar and drum sounds of this record. During first minutes I actually thought they have programmed drums in it. lol. Guitars sound like they are recorded straight from amplifier's line out or with some toy amp. But hey. This is Black Metal. I believe even master Fenriz would approve this kind of rawness. I've listened the album through two times and third round is going right now. I have to say this surprised me positively how deep these songs are. They have some real magic inside. That nasty guitar sound complete the soundscape and listening experience by adding weird shamanic mood. Pure Black Metal candy. These guys know how to write good music. Tales of Suwoh is self-published album. I don't know should I wish Ancient sphereS to find some good label to back their art. Maybe they like to work free without middlemans. But there's hell lot of worse bands in well known labels.
For further knowledge Tales of Suwoh is freely downloadable in Ancient sphereS' Bandcamp page.