04/05/2023
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BMD EDITOR'S POISON: BEST OF APRIL
Continuing to ascend the most revered and violent slashes of stygian artistry, this time for the month of APRIL MMXXIII.
I'll assume it's absolutely no surprise to anyone who has experienced it that the mighty Dødheimsgard produced the album of the month (and possibly year) with the stunning depth and intricacy of 'Black Medium Current', but what is slightly more of a surprise is the stellar form Australians Austere are in despite a 14 year gap between drinks. Gryftigæn further cemented the Pure Raw Underground Black Metal Plague as one of the most imposing active circles; Argenthorns showed narrative symphonic black metal can still be done well without being cheesy, Cthonica produced a savage opus of rotting black death spiritual flagellation and transcendence, while Moon Oracle's primitivism struck the right chord to have me returning again and again. Heretic Cult Redeemer have created a beast of such primal arcane energy it cannot be tempered and must be witnessed at all costs, the subtly shapeshifting Altari beat out the other big Icelandic release of the month (you know the one) for me, Blodtår mastered their folky Swedish riff-fest, and Mistral released an album of gut-wrenching, tragic beauty – the sound of a soul breaking on tape.
1. DHG/Dødheimsgard Official - Black Medium Current (Peaceville Records)
2. Austere - Corrosion of Hearts (Lupus Lounge)
3. Gryftigæn - Wurmwaldgaistoz (Inferna Profundus Records / Mahamvantara Arts Records)
4. Argenthorns - The Ravening (Avantgarde Music)
5. Cthonica - Of Sphere Dehydration and Spiritual Contraction (Profaner Records / Blasphemer Productions)
6. Moon Oracle - Ophidian Glare (Signal Rex / Be***al Burst)
7. Heretic Cult Redeemer - Flagellum Universalis (III Damnation Productions)
8. Altari - Kröflueldar (Svart Records)
9. Blodtår - Det förtegna förflutna (Nordvis)
10. Mistral - In the Throes of Losing Love (Fólkvangr Records / Onism Productions)
Also highly worth your support were superlative releases from Pénombre, Gnawed Chrisom, Thørn, Thysia, Askheimr, CEPHEIDE, Hoplites, Bacchus, Dione, Cold Body Radiation and Coil Cloud, Sanguine Relic, Eschaton Holocaust, Astwihad, Duelliste, Mavorim, AYYUR, Grot, Gnaw Their Tongues / Deha, Sól án varma, Cicada The Burrower, Vargrav, Decipher, WynterMyst, Thecodontion / Ceremented, and Nethermancy.