Published: January 12, 2025

When Hypnotic Dirge sent me a rather large pile of CD’s to review, I didn’t know the vast number of quality albums they have released. After this album I only have three CD’s left from them to review, and all of them have been great. Such is the case with “A Soul Purged”, the one and only output thus far from Houston, Texas-based Urbain. Looking at the cover, I thought for sure this was going to be an Industrial album. ...

Published: December 23, 2023

 Far from an uncommon topic for metal but especially black metal, misanthropy is something that we can all relate to when it comes to metal music. We’ve seen it become an absolute pillar of what many different corners of black metal are able to bring to the table with all sorts of different approaches, styles, and executions able to deliver it in such a form that leaves us understanding why humankind is a bittersweet existence...

Published: December 11, 2023

The company of Urbain and their debut album might be black metal orientated, but it is not the ‘be all and end all’ of their sound. This band is aiming to challenge black metal experiences and that is notable from the start with Perception. An opening track that focuses on gothic-toned and gloomy piano melody, before transitioning into a scathing atmospherically heavy blast of savagery. The chill that comes from this track will be felt d...