Hermh - Eden's Fire
Eternalization Pagan2006 Symphonic black metal is one of my least favorite kinds of metal, with possibly only symphonic power metal faring worse. However, Poland’s Hermh mostly avoids the “O Fortuna” pro wrestler fanfare that most of the genre seems like to me. Big keyboards lard up the mix, of course, but the guitars cut through...
North - Na Polach Bitew
Pamięć Przeszłości Pagan2006 Not only does the cover of Na Polach Bitew recall Graveland’s Creed of Iron, Rob Darken contributed artwork to the release. Add the song title “Symbol of the Sun,” as well as the fact that North appears on the upcoming Eastern Hammer split with Graveland and Nokturnal Mortum, and my NSBM alarm...
Non Opus Dei - The Quintessence
Gdy Imperium Upada…Kolejny Obrót Koła Pagan2006 I must admit, this album took a while to grow on me. At first, it went by, feeling dreary and colorless. But after further listening, I realized that’s not the case. Darkness has many hues, and what I mistook for dreariness turned out to be subtle, varied, and, yes,...