Nick

Runic Reviews started nearly 5 years ago. It has always been one person, being me. I had conscripted help from artists to help do the artwork of the website, but beyond that, from the layout, the writing, promotion, everything has been me. It's been my passion and had kept me mentally afloat back when I first started it. It's my pride and joy and something I wish to share with everyone. But, as time goes on, and life gets in the way, it becomes harder to keep the energy alive. The spark will always remain within me, but the energy of the Runic Review needs constant attention to keep it humming. This is why I am reaching out to anyone out there, from readers, to friends, to random strangers, I wish for your help and contribution for the runic endeavor. When I first started this website, my hope was to encourage discussion of musical topics, exploration into unknown territory in the artistic world, and to hopefully harbor a community of individuals who have a burning passion for outsider art and music. Here is what I'm asking: if you're heavily opinionated, tired of annoying the people around you about musical topics that are basically meaningless to them, then I wish to help you present those thoughts to an audience who hopefully would be interested. I want to bring on writers who want to flex their talent and exercise their creativity and discuss topics from the musical underground. It can be: - Reviews - Interviews - Opinion Articles Or anything that could be interesting in the written format that can fit with the themes presented. I will state this now. THIS IS NOT A PAID GIG. I make no money from Runic Reviews. It has always been a passion project and I hope those who join can understand that I can't afford to pay people out of pocket. I am not going anywhere and will continue to provide reviews everyone is familiar with already. But hopefully I can bring on some new names and fresh perspectives. For more info inquire either via DM or email: [email protected] Thank You Stay Trve #runicreviews #albumreviews #metalreviews #outsiderart #outsiderwriter #experimentalmusic #experimentalart

A noisy month of January. @atavisticpassage double demonstration of raw ritualistic black metal is a perfect companion for a deathly cold winter. Its raw riffs and viscous vocals infect the ear and keep you tapped in. Wizards are real. They exist and they live freely. Conjuring fantastic melodies and tunes perfect for any castle rave. Magic Man's Jasna Strona Mocy is my personal favorite out of his releases. A much required listen for any esoteric being. Animal Lust's latest release titled The World is a Setting Sun and I Don't Have Faith in Anyone is a martial industrial wall of nihilistic noise. It's a dark and brooding album, certainly not for the faint of heart, but those willing to face the noise, I'd say this is a good place to start. @harshnoisekommando Full reviews on Runic Reviews, link in bio. Thank you for supporting the artists making all this noise. Stay Trve. . . . . . . . . . #blackmetal #undergroundblackmetal #deathmetal #doom #grunge #doommetal #sludgemetal #thrashmetal #heavymetal #reviews #albumreviews #runicreviews #metalreviews #vinylreviews #undergroundmetal #noise #noisemusic #rawblackmetal #UKBlackmetal #UKBM #dungeonsynth #dungeondisco #castlerave #magicman #atavisticpassage

A few more to go before we wrap up the year. A captivating and hypnotic act Brùid has captured me with its chaotic brutality. Harkening back to classic bestial black metal, their two releases are a true brutal assault that is a true experience to go through. @bleakdarkwhimsy is the first to present his writings for Runic Reviews. Four tracks that feel like a full fantasy epic—prologue, blood-soaked battle, cosmic ambient journey, then a triumphant final sword-raise. Mooncitadel - Stardawn Usurper is lush, heroic Finnish black metal with perfect production, huge riffs, dungeon synth/folk parts, and killer screams. @cellarvesselofficial returns with their latest release Sermons In The Void. It's a beautifully crafted and well executed death metal album with symphonic qualities and a clear embrace of technical skill. A strong return and a very fun listen overall. @arcane.marrow returns with Rising in the Early Dawn. I consider it the best release under @moonlightcypressarchetypes and a fine black metal album overall. Its real, raw, and authentic. No harsh gimmicks or games. Just pure kvlt. Full reviews on Runic Reviews. Link in the bio. Thank you to those who support the underground and those who dwell within. Stay Trve. . . . . . #blackmetal #undergroundblackmetal #deathmetal #doom #grunge #doommetal #sludgemetal #thrashmetal #heavymetal #reviews #albumreviews #runicreviews #metalreviews #vinylreviews #undergroundmetal #USBM #technicaldeathmetal #progdeath #techdeath #rawblackmetal #grindcore #grind #bestialblackmetal #moonlightcypressarchetypes #Brùid #celticblackmetal #mooncitadelfinland #finnishblackmetal #symphonicmetal #atmosphericmetal

A return to form. Bringing us their debut release, underground German experimentalist Aätra presents us with their ambition debut The Nine Billion Heads of God. To put it simply, its better Trhä. Much better. Still leaving more to be desired personally, but an interesting listen none the less. @whitehatorder had showed us their psychedelic ceremony back in 2023 and it certainly was a mind-bending experience. Doom heavy and psycho-manic, its a throw back to the peak era of psychedelia with a modern metal twist. @malacath_bm had so graciously gifted me their Volume III compilation album. This is black metal to its core. No ifs ands or buts about it. A strong presentation of trve traditional black metal. @asrar_records presented us with Eagle's Nest demo last year, but this year, the US based black metal outfit have presented us with their debut, Purification. A volkish and mighty album with plenty of heroic might and grandeur. I've come across a strange yet interesting album, from an organization simply called Empty Eye, Inc. This Audio Document is a twisted and dark listen, with harsh noise walls and intense instrumentation. A true underground gem. @moonlightcypressarchetypes presents @_stumptail_ latest album, Sonder Down Yonder. To me, this is a modern classic. Creative, memorable but most of all, heavy. Stumptail have out did their last album and maybe uncovered a coven of vampires at Bojangles. Careful with your bo-berry biscuits. Full articles up on Runic Reviews, link in the bio as always. Thank you all for supporting the artists who dwell within the underground. Stay Trve. . . . . . #blackmetal #undergroundblackmetal #deathmetal #doom #grunge #doommetal #sludgemetal #thrashmetal #heavymetal #reviews #albumreviews #runicreviews #metalreviews #vinylreviews #undergroundmetal #moonlightcypressarchetypes #stumptail #experimental #ASRAR #EaglesNest #Aätra #privaterelease #Malacath #whitehatorder #psychedelia #psychedelicmetal #USBM #germanblackmetal #czechmetal

Do I have to keep introducing these posts? A batch of reviews fresh off the presses uploaded to your local Runic Review website. Spanish hallucinatory black metal Délirant returns with their sophomore release, Thoughteater. This is a step up from their previous release, with crisp quality and an even sharper and ferocious edge. You will leave this album with nary a thought left in your head. @negativa0 Being released under the @sinistrari.records banner, Saturnian Current presents us with their debut album, Illuminatio Doctrinae Mysterii. This album sports a melodic and classic approach to their black metal, with an occult and hermetic twist making it a heavy jam to listen to. @axekution brings us their debut release, Warriors of the Death Raid. Another classic sounding album, mixing the best of thrash, black, and traditional heavy metal for a true mosher of an album. A solid debut and one I'll be keeping a close eye on. From deep within the Javanese jungles of Indonesia comes Falsus Evangelium, another occult ridden album filled framed in an enochian mind set that even John Dee would find appealing. Experimental and hard hitting, this is a black metal record that stands out among its peers with its quirky and unique sound. @falsusevangelium Full reviews and more over at Runic Reviews, link in my bio. Thank you for all who support the underground and those who dwell within. Stay Trve. . . . . . . . . #blackmetal #undergroundblackmetal #deathmetal #doom #grunge #doommetal #sludgemetal #thrashmetal #heavymetal #reviews #albumreviews #runicreviews #metalreviews #vinylreviews #undergroundmetal #sinistrarirecords #saturniancurrent #delirant #sentientruinlaboratories #axe #axekution #UKBM #UKblackmetal #USBM #USblackmetal #Spanishblackmetal #indonesianblackmetal #falsusevangelium

A return to form. After a much needed break I am back on the grind of album reviews. We got a mixed bag with this batch of reviews. Some I was head over heels in love with, others I was a bit disappointed, but all were somewhat surprising to me. We have @vilehaint and their latest release Abound with Malice, a solid black metal piece dripping with atmosphere. @nihilinvocation latest release, Crestfallen Stronghold, which caught me by surprise with its clarity and hard hitting riffs. We also have Fleckentarn's latest release, Feu du Ciel, Feu de I'Esprit, a continuation of what they had previously started with their last albums. @scimitarium666 debut release, one of my favorites so far this year, with its fusion of old school heavy metal sensibilities with that raw black metal edge. @ttnbld.official latest release, From The Visceral Abyss, their familiar dark conjurings return with this album, and finally, my all time favorite release so far this year @negativa0 Hässlig's Apex Predator. A masterclass of raw and primitive metal. All of these reviews can be found over at Runic Reviews, link always in the bio. I have more coming soon, another mixed bag, but this should suffice for now. Until then, thank you to everyone who supports these artists and those who keep the underground alive and well. I hope the little part I contribute with my words helps push forward a better sound overall. Until then, Stay Trve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #blackmetal #undergroundblackmetal #deathmetal #crustpunk #punk #doom #grunge #doommetal #sludgemetal #thrashmetal #heavymetal #reviews #albumreviews #runicreviews #metalreviews #vinylreviews #cryptofthewizard #hässlig #teitanblood #vilehaint #moonlightcypressarchetypes #fleckentarn #scimitar #nihilinvocation #sentientruinlaboratories

The first week comes to a close. A new edition to Runic Review scribings. @forest.thrall.108 debut release Apparitions of the Golden Horned is a ritualistic invocation to dark spirits. It's a thrashing pagan inspired black metal assault with an equally inspiring record pressing. It was one of my favorite releases to listen to while closing out the year. @baazlvaat latest release Ridiculed by the Common Soldiery is a defining opus that showcases the unique essence of US black metal. It's a Gothic heavy metal and hard rock inspired black metal opera that stands alone in its unique sound. A cosmic approach to black metal has returned with Starcave's latest release Sukta. It's a hypnotizing and mediative album that captures the cosmic head space this duo reside in. It's something that really caught me by surprise and was one of my favorites closing out the year. @strixskog latest EP Slaughtered retells the tragic tale of Cain and Abel through their new found progressive and atmospheric metal with a much darker sound compared to their previous release, still holding onto their black metal roots. Full reviews on Runic Reviews link in bio. Baazlvaat and Starcave vinyl beautiful pressed by @goatowarex_the_true Stay Trve. . . . . . . . . . . . #blackmetal #undergroundblackmetal #deathmetal #doom #doommetal #sludgemetal #thrashmetal #heavymetal #reviews #albumreviews #runicreviews #metalreviews #vinylreviews #goatowarex #baazlvaat #starcave #cosmicchurch #strixskog #forestthrall

As the blessings from the plague god passed through me, here were some audial tortures that kept my mind at ease. Two releases from the occult Columbian underground label Enclave Magico Indomito one titled Oratoria Empírea from a project of the same name and the other, Portales de Guerra Astral by the band Delcitii, both share many qualities of dark psychedelia that is both out of this world and vaguely familiar to the black metal underground. While I found the Annunakian qualities of Oratoria Empírea to be more captivating, Portales de Guerra Astral is still an incredible listen and both should be consumed in a ritualistic manner with an open mindset. @ruohttaliekki presents us with the latest release from his Sámi black metal project Djuasa, that touches upon an old story about the Christianization of the Sámi people that reflects the iconic and infamous story of 90s Norwegian black metal. This charming and unique release is tightly performed and incredibly charming. Any true black metal warriors should give it a try. Charisma Rat brings us their latest release titled ISAR, a raw and vitriolic release with a punk touch that stands tall among the lo-fi black metal underground. With unique drumming and strong instrumentation, this is a step in an interesting direction for the sound of the charismatic rat. @boughtanewfacemakesmecool Full reviews are always up on Runic Reviews, link in the bio. Thank you to all those who support the underground and those who dwell within. Stay Trve. Runic Reviews forever. . . . . . . #blackmetal #undergroundblackmetal #deathmetal #doom #grunge #doommetal #sludgemetal #thrashmetal #heavymetal #reviews #albumreviews #runicreviews #metalreviews #vinylreviews #undergroundmetal #sámi #sámiblackmetal #columbianblackmetal #rawblackmetal #psychedelic #psychedelicmetal #Oratoriaempírea #Delictii #enclavemagicoindomito #ruohtta #djuasa #charismarat #ISAR

But wait, there's still more! From the dark Celtic forests, Auld Ridge emerges once more presenting their latest offering, For Death and Glory, to the Gods I Cry. This is black metal at its finest. Nothing more should be said as this is a must listen to any trve black metal fans out there. @headstonebrigade has created one of my favorite albums that I've heard this year so far, Victory & Death. Sporting a unique Gothic maritime sound, Headstone Brigade weaves together a fascinating album of twisted war tales and sea shanties that captured my heart and rekindled an old sound that I haven't heard since I was a small child. Well worth the listen! Ghosts of Lietus is a mysterious and spontaneous release coming from the mastermind behind the underground black metal band Strix Akesis. This album, Dream of the Viridian King sounds like a new chapter and a new approach to the familiar frantic crusty sounds of Strix Akesis, in a more thought out and comprehensive approach. Either way, it's a straight banger and a must listen for sure. Full reviews on Runic Reviews link in bio. Thank you to all who support the underground and the artists who reside in it, they deserve more praise and support than I. Stay Trve . . . . . . . . . . . #blackmetal #undergroundblackmetal #deathmetal #crustpunk #punk #doom #grunge #doommetal #sludgemetal #thrashmetal #heavymetal #reviews #albumreviews #runicreviews #metalreviews #vinylreviews #neofolk #headstonebrigade #ghostsoflietus #auldridge #orderofytene #seashanties #seattleunderground #gothicfolk #britishblackmetal #celticblackmetal #USBM #frenchblackmetal #frenchbm

Death in June - Rule of Thirds 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 The rule of thirds, dictates my life.

Two is better than one. Hailing from the Columbian underground and apart of the Enclave Magico Indomito label, Coagula presents us two self titled albums of raw black metal vitriol. Punkish and filled with cthonic spite, these two albums certainly rip through the underground, though I did find II to be a little stronger than the first. And from the New York wilderness, Silvaplana channels Dionysian energy with these two dissonant and different albums. Sils Maria, sporting more ambient yet intense beats and piano passages and Limbs of Dionysus a raw and oozing with Dionysian mania black metal album that compliments the first. These two albums came out at the same time and I feel like should be listened to in a certain order, though certainly not required. Full reviews up on Runic Reviews, link in the bio. Thank you all for supporting these wildly talented artists who would criminally go unnoticed otherwise. Stay Trve. . . . . . . . #blackmetal #undergroundblackmetal #deathmetal #doom #grunge #doommetal #sludgemetal #thrashmetal #heavymetal #reviews #albumreviews #runicreviews #metalreviews #vinylreviews #undergroundmetal #EnclaveMagicoIndomito #Coagula #ColumbianBlackMetal #USBM #Silvaplana #Dionysus #avantgarde #experimentalmusic

Okay lets go Ulm and @galvanist.arcana have joined together to present a mind bending split titled Hollowtop, where Ulm's ecstatic fury and Galvanist's heady melodies join together to create a beautiful dichotomy of sound. I also went over each of the band's debut releases to lay down an understanding of the band's sounds and approaches. One of my favorites to come out so far this year is Черновство latest release titled Доблесть. This is the latest of their string of albums and this is black metal at its finest. Cold, raw, filled with pride and valor. Can't beat black metal like that. @thumosband as well brought us Atlantis, a dive into Plato's lesser known dialogues that Thumos oh so skillfully displays in a harmonic and melodic way. Finally @mikulasvintzo latest album Sú to iba pesničky is a fun quirky album that reminds me something along the lines of Daniel Johnston or the demo recordings of Neutral Milk Hotel, though not as noisy. It displays Wintzler's colorful artistic mind in a way that's a little bit more easy to digest compared to his previous releases. A fun listen none the less. Full reviews on Runic Reviews, link in the bio. Thanks for supporting these artists and keeping the underground 'alive' so to speak. Stay Trve. . . . . . . #blackmetal #undergroundblackmetal #deathmetal #doom #grunge #doommetal #sludgemetal #thrashmetal #heavymetal #reviews #albumreviews #runicreviews #metalreviews #vinylreviews #undergroundmetal #nicholaswintzler #wintzler #slovakianmusic #experimentalmusic #noisemusic #galvanist #ulm #fidahproduction #черновство #Chernovstvo #folk #folkmusic