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Author Andy Pountney

I was brought up in the West Midlands during the back end of the thrash scene, and then relocated to Yorkshire, becoming immersed in the bludgeoning death metal scene. As death metal waned, I found my true musical calling in the form of black metal, and it is here that my musical passion remains to this day. Having said that, I’m open minded and will give a fair listen to any style of alternative music, especially live, enjoying all forms of extreme music and can regularly be found lurking with a camera in one hand and pint in the other at metal gigs……

Jo Quail – Invocation & Supplication (By Norse)

Magnificent, epic, bombastic, opulent, cinematic……I could go on but you get the idea. Jo Quail’s latest offering is stunning and even though her previous releases were well received, this is a whole other level. I’m sure most people are familiar… Continue Reading →

Eradikated – Descendants (Indie Recordings)

Back in 1849, French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” and since then this, and its English translation “the more things change, the more they stay the same”, have been widely quoted and… Continue Reading →

Grift — Dolt Land (Nordvis Produktion)

There has been something of an explosion of neo-folk in recent years, and Grift can perhaps be considered one of the leading proponents, having been plying their trade and carving their niche since 2011. When I say “their”, I should… Continue Reading →

Midgardsblot Metal Festival – Borre, Norway 19/8/23 Day 4

Ah, the final day of a festival always brings mixed emotions with another full day to look forward to, but also the crashing down to reality as soon as it is over. However, there were some absolute gems on the… Continue Reading →

Midgardsblot Metal Festival – Borre, Norway 18/8/23 Day 3

I took advantage of the good weather by spending the morning strolling along the Oslofjord and then exploring the museum in the Midgard Viking Centre before heading into the festival site where I caught the Viking battle. Then I tentatively… Continue Reading →

Midgardsblot Metal Festival – Borre, Norway 17/8/23 – Day 2

  My second day at Midgardsblot began with a walk along the wooded edge of the beautiful Oslofjord and around Borre Park, contemplating the historical significance of the area and soaking up its heritage. Despite plenty of people milling around,… Continue Reading →

Midgardsblot Metal Festival, Borre, Norway 16/8/23 – Day 1

Once again, I found myself making my way to the hallowed grounds at Borre for the unique Midgardsblot festival with its diverse combination of extreme metal, nordic folk and so much more. The festival is set within the grounds of… Continue Reading →

Voidmilker – Labyrinthical (Tragedy Productions)

Once again I find myself exploring the darker depths of black metal’s underbelly, and finding its cold, claustrophobic embrace familiar and comforting. This month’s offering comes from Voidmilker, a name which will be new to most, as this is their… Continue Reading →

Vonülfsrëich – Miasmal Winds (Fallen Temple)

Do you like your black metal polished and symphonic with lots of keyboards and tunes you can sing along to in the car? If so, I suggest you look elsewhere as Finland’s Vonülfsrëich deliver nasty, gnarly low fi black metal… Continue Reading →

Nattverd – I Helvetes Forakt (Soulseller Records)

There are few things you can rely on in life, but Norwegian black metal seems to be one of those, especially when it comes to bands who don’t stray too far from the blue print.  Bergen’s Nattverd are one such band,… Continue Reading →

Drott – Troll (By Norse Music)

In a world where every musical subgenre has seemingly been explored, exploited and exhausted, it is unusual and refreshing to come across something which is unique and pushes the boundaries further, and yet that is what Drott have managed to… Continue Reading →

Inferno Festival – Rockefeller, John Dee Oslo, Norway 9/3/23

Easter Sunday began with a walk around the Oslo Opera House and the waterfront area, before catching up with a couple of friends over a beer before heading down to the venue in time for Urgehal. They were, of course,… Continue Reading →

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