A sort of retrospective of 2023

End of the year lists are, most of the time, a hard task. I can hardly remember what I did yesterday, let alone recall a release that came out in January. I do believe does that do are amazing people and deserve all the best that the World has in store for them. Nah, fuck it! Nonetheless, I decided to go through some of the releases of 2023, most of them less known - to a bigger crowd, at least, not to the Trve Kvlt fans, of course – and write a few words, just to try to convince you to give them a go. And some Black Metal… I might be reviewing some other stuff from last year, so wait for more!

Starting off with Angurvadal’s “A Flame Immemorial...”. Angurvadal is form an unknown location, and formed by unknown musicians, so… very much Black Metal from the XXI century. Musically speaking, I find it superb. Pagan atmosphere without ever falling into those bottomless pits of bad taste. The sound is powerful and dynamic, ticking all the boxes in terms of good Black Metal. Deep cavernous voice, melody, and more melody, that harsh sound and “old scent”. Try to find the tape at Blud Auk Tapes and get ready for War!

Hasswald’s “Und so Begann...” has been on a massive loop. Got to it rather late, I confess, but have not let go of it for a while. Hasswald is an Estonian act, and this is their first release, set off into the World by Estonian label Warhorn Record in digital form, on Bandcamp. And how does it sound? Exquisite. This year I have focused more on “better produced/sounding” releases, to be honest, and very few Raw Black Metal released have, in fact, caught my eye & grabbed my attention, but this was one of them. I get a sense of melancholy from these 4 tracks. Not the French way, no, but a different one. It sounds amazing, it sounds powerful and so very well-constructed, that I wonder why was this not in AOTY tops. Does it hold some of that Eastern Black Metal flare? Yes, it does. This is one of the best Black Metal pieces from 2023, in my opinion.

Heading on over to the US of A, to welcome Wolves of Desor. “Wolves of Desor is a one-man band (side) project by M (aka Maximilianus Transylvanus), who is also responsible for Raw BM project Wraithlord” (GoldenGangräneVerzückung YouTube Channel). “Lost Kingdom of the Giants” is the project’s first release, and it pretty much sounds like what Black Metal should (still) sound like in 2023 (and beyond) in my book. Is it Pagan, is it Folk, it is Black Metal, that much we have. A band I have always loved is Enslaved, the Norwegian Black Metal Gods, and although WoD do not sound like Enslaved, I get some of the feelings from this release, that I get from some of Enslaved’s first releases. However, WoD do not sound that old, as you can hear some more contemporary details, especially keyboard and overall atmospheres. Can I consider it atmospheric? Perhaps. Completely within the sub-genre? Possibly not. Nonetheless, this is a hell of a release.

The artist I am about to talk about wrote some of the best Black Folk Pagan Metal this country has ever heard, even if people try to cover History and deny their importance. Tann is the name, and Ironsword the game. Yes, not a Black Metal release, but I had to put this one here. Ironsword is the musical expression of Conan, along with Manilla Road and Cirith Ungol, and being a huge fan of the Sumerian, the band is always a go to. After 2020’s “Servants of Steel”, the trio released a 4-song EP, and it sounds glorious. They do sound a bit more refined, and perhaps less barbaric than how they sounded in the Past, but still a strong Heavy Epic Metal release. "Underground" is a magnificent release.

Returning to Black Metal, and to a very known name: Obskuritatem. The Bosnian released a new EP, “Nekroromantizam”, and it sounds ferocious. A 2-song EP where Osman faces his demons and counterattacks with his strain of demented Black Metal. Obskuritatem’s world is one of dementia and despair, desecration, and human suffering, at least this is what I extract from its sound. Analysis will always be left to the listener… Perhaps this release is less chaotic, less “degraded” or derelict, and more melancholic.

Heading back to Portugal, land of all things Raw and Decrepit. Ceremonial Energy, new entity in the Portuguese Black Metal scene released “Perennial Morbid Rapture”, and this is a clear (is it?) homage to one of the greatest Black Metal acts out there: Black Cilice. If you know Black Cilice, you understand my words; if you do not know Black Cilice, please do yourself a favour and go worship the Master of all things Dark. Ceremonial Energy is, clearly, inspired by the man himself, and there is more than just a coincidence in terms of the chosen name, as the overall sound and atmosphere is reminiscent of that crafted by the man from Porto. The intensity in the sound is heavy, and it cannot prevent yourself from being drawn into this massive black hole of nothingness. Funny to hear the dissimilarities (at times) with 90ies Black Metal. I feel like a new sound has been crafted from the essence of the Old Sound, and some do it perfectly well, without harming its essence, adding layers and layers of Darkness and Destruction. Ceremonial Energy is one hell of a bottomless pit of despair…

I am one of those guys that to this day lives along the lines of that basic, and at times idiotic idea, that things were better in my day. Well, not everything today is worse that it was back in the day, and I truly feel we get more attached to things from an emotional perspective, than for its quality, but I still go back to old released than I do to newer one. With that, there are some exceptions, of course: As the Shadows Envelop Me, “Fedrekult”. Released by Venereal Veneration, “Fedrekult” is the band’s 2^nd release, and one hell of a release. ATSEM are a US quartet that dwells into Germanic Paganism and alike, and its sound is exactly that. That Pagan, Folkish melody, that pace you identify with German Black Metal bands, full of melody and strength!