Review: Sickle of Dust's new album "Across the Vultures Trail"

Russian Epic Symphonic Black Metal band Sickle of Dust just released their 5th album called Across the Vultures Trail. 

On the email I received, it said it is appropriate for fans of Summoning (amongst other bands). I have to say yes, it reminds me a lot of Summoning. But it's so much heavier! I like it. I like the fact that it is actually similar but at the same time different.

I don't get a lot of this Epic Black Metal for reviews, but sometimes I do, and this time it really really impressed me.

So what can you expect? Long songs, yes, of course, wouldn't make sense otherwise, because these compositions are so full, so rich, that they must be properly contemplated and appreciated. So basically, it's around 40 minutes of beautiful music.

Across the Vultures Trail has 5 tracks. All of them very atmospheric, very epic, and very heavy as well. Track number 3 which has the same title as the album, surprised me very much in a very positive way. It might actually be my favourite song of the whole album. Why is that? Because it starts with very atmospheric strings on keyboards, sad melody actually, and when you're getting into it, and being completely taken to elsewhere and feeling dreamy and nostalgic, comes an explosion of beauty, the powerful drums and incisive melody, all the instruments combined, and then the voice which is just so fitting, so perfect in there. 

The whole album is so well put together, the balance between the melody and the heaviness and the more raw bits is so good. The voice is a more traditional Black Metal style, but neither too raw or too sanded down, it's just the ideal for the music. There is actually a clean singing in the last track The Black Stones Inn. Which brings the atmospheric side of the music to a different unexpected level. Good stuff. Different.

What else? The rhythmic bits and the atmospheric bits are very well distributed. The medieval kind of instruments on keyboards and synthesiser are exceptionally well composed and performed. Everything in the right place.

I'm sure Across the Vultures Trail will be on the top 10 releases of 2026 for Lachryma Christi. 

It is all so good, I love this album, I'm overwhelmed. It's beautiful. Majestic, magnificent, huge, enormous in fact, powerful, epic, strong, potent, sublime. Difficult to put it all into words, but here we are!

Review: Noctivagum's first EP "De Arcanis et Ritibus Sulphuris"

Greetings, and Happy New Year!

Today, Lachryma Christi brings you a review of the debut EP of the Black Metal band Noctivagum.

Noctivagum are a two men project, based in Germany. D. does the drums, writes the lyrics and is responsible for the whole concept. While Lightning plays the guitars and the bass.

The band is pretty recently formed, Noctivagum exist since last year. And they are releasing their EP De Arcanis et Ritibus Sulphuris digitally in middle January, followed by 100 physical copies in February. 

The voices were recorded by Wolf, from Italy. 

De Arcanis et Ritibus Sulphuris has 7 tracks, being the first and last both instrumental songs.

This release is very atmospheric, very wintry. 

It balances perfectly the soft and the aggressive parts. It is very melodic, very profound, very intense, and also very powerful with it's blast beasts incisions, which are pretty frequent, and with perfect timing. I find that this release has huge influences of the Black Metal music that was being made in the 90s, but they also have their own style. They have their own signature. In the compositions, in the melodies, in the whole feeling. With that being said, the songs are consistent, strong, energetic, and although they're part of a whole work and are better understood if you listen to them all in order, they're not repetitive, nor unoriginal. On the opposite. Each song adds a necessary bit to the whole release.

The voices aren't always growling. There's a good dose of declamation, which only adds more feeling to it all. I'd risk saying there is a romantic influence and feeling to it. 

I'd like to see them live. This is the kind of energy and musicality I imagine it would go really well live.

The lyrics are mostly in English, but there are elements in Latin which also adds a special touch. You can tell the whole work was well thought, the whole writing was made with care, before being recorded.

My favourite song is Carpe Noctem. I loved it as soon as it started, and still plays in my head every now and then. It's one of the most atmospheric songs in the EP. Also catchy but deep.

I listened to the EP 4 times, two without headphones, and two with headphones, to get the full feeing of it, and for the technical part of the thing. It makes a difference. I always prefer to listen to anything with headphones. But in this case specifically, I wanted to listen to it both ways, to confirm something: I'm going to say that I'd like the whole album to have the same level of production, as the instrumental songs seem to be on a higher level. I'm not criticising, I'm only stating a fact. But I'm very pleased with the end result either way. 

I hope when the time comes, everyone has the opportunity to listen to De Arcanis et Ritibus Sulphuris, because I'm sure it will make a difference in your day, but also in your Black Metal journey.

News: Morbonoct reveal lyrics for new single "Cold Wind"

Black Metal band Morbonoct from Ukraine/Poland, are releasing a new album called No One Knows We're Dying on the 12th of December, through Black Metal Promotion.

To give us all a taste of what's coming, they released on the 14th of November the single Cold Wind, which is now available on all streaming platforms.

Lachryma Christi is very honoured to share with you, first-hand, the lyrics for this amazing track.

You can listen to Cold Wind here:

Lyrics: 

"Dominant arrogance

Cult of the mighty ones

Sadness a weakness

Vanquished morality

Your dreams will perish

And turn into dust

Stay close, the path is thin

Revere the fleeting thread

For we shall end within

Pax aeterna animae

Again, I see

Her pale white face

Rage, disdain

She walks with deadly grace

The keeper of my fate

She walks me to

The gates of hell

Her velvet touch

My final bell

I'm drowning in my own self

The treasure i cannot find

I lost my will to live

I think i'm losing time

I think i'm losing time

Drowning in myself 

I'm bleeding

I'm dying inside

I think 

I think im losing time

Again

I don't know what to do

I stand alone

Among the last few

Sleepless nights

Were testament to my fate

I'm coexisting with pressure

And pain that was forced

Upon my name

Perpetrator not a victim

That's exactly who I am

Kept my love so tight

When she died inside

Her blood is on my hands

Still alive

Sleepless nights

I'll die tonight

Cold winds call, my time is near,

Lost in night, consumed by fear.

Shadows fall, I can't break free

Cold winds are calling my name

My time is soon to come

I can't break free

Cold winds call my name"

In case you don't know, Morbonoct play a symphonic, atmospheric, aggressive but also melodic Black Metal, with a touch of cosmic and space elements. Their music is very passionate, intense, deep.

I was very pleased with the previous album The Highest Purpose which came out last year (review here: https://lachrymachristizine.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-morbonocts-new-album-highest.html), and I'm very eager to listen to No One Knows We're Dying, because Cold Wind is so so good. Just beautiful!

Review: Empalamento's upcoming EP "Ordem da Estaca"

Tonight, Lachryma Christi brings you a review to the debut EP from Portuguese Black Metal band Empalamento.

The EP is called Ordem da Estaca (Stake Horde), and is scheduled to be released on the 10th of June, through Haloran Records.

My first impression was: "It sounds quite vampiric."

And it is! I wasn't aware until now, but it is dedicated to Vlad III the Impaler. Which is amazing. I love the idea. And you can right away hear and feel that vibe. With the keyboards being a huge part of that, of course. 

So, Ordem da Estaca has 7 tracks, all of them in Portuguese. I'm surprised, wasn't expecting so many songs.

I was quite curious about this EP, was waiting for it to be sent to me, so I could listen to it and review it, since I haven't had the chance to see the band live yet. I didn't know what to expect. And I didn't read the description on the email or anything about it before I listened to the songs, so I wouldn't let myself be influenced by others' opinions (usually that's my modus operandi in the reviews), and so I would let myself be surprised, for the good and for the bad. The thing is, with Empalamento and Ordem da Estaca there are no bad surprises. 

You can tell where their influences come from, exactly. And these guys have good taste. However it is extremely important to add that it is not a copy, thankfully. I come across many copy and paste music when I listen to a new Black Metal album or EP, and Empalamento certainly have their own identity. Their music is very cold, dark and obscure, almost ritualistic at times, but also no doubt very versatile. You get surprised along the songs, as the elements pop in an out, then there are also the keyboards, which go from spooky and mystical to epic, without any warning. I like this. There is also a combo of voices, going from gutural to screaming, to recitation, which was also a fresh breeze for me. I like this too. There is a guest voice by Koraxid (Grievance, Medo) on track 5 which shares the title of the EP. I wasn't aware of it until I recognised the voice while i was listening to the song. So I apologise if this is a spoiler for you :)

Moving on, usually I chose a favourite song, but this time I can't. I liked the whole EP as a whole, and I don't think it makes sense otherwise. 

There are three instrumental songs, the first one Deambulação Abismal (Reino das Tormentas) which works as an intro, the fourth one Devaneios, and the last one of course, Maldição Intemporal which brings the perfect ending for the release too, and perhaps some chills down your spine. It certainly did it for me. Spooky. Again, I like it. 

Production is excellent, and I'm happy about this. I'm very satisfied it is like this. Although contradicting a bit the essence of Black Metal music, and contradicting even the theme of the band and of the EP, with the mix of sounds and voices and the keyboards and all, it wouldn't have worked as a raw release. It would have possibly been a huge mess. So, good job. Fantastic job.

Now, to see these guys live. I really want to. And I'm also hoping that the next release keeps up with the same majesty as Ordem da Estaca. 

Empalamento are Lord Drahkul and NekroTeppes. 

Ordem da Estaca has Koraxid as especial guest on drums, and voice on track 5 as mentioned above. 

Don't forget the date, it's the 10th of June! Via Haloran Records. 

News: Medo make all their releases available online

Black Metal project Medo from Portugal, just made all their releases available in all online platforms.

Medo were active between 2006 and 2016, and released three albums and a demo along those years. 

There are no plans of reactivating the project, but at least their music is now widely available to everyone who wishes to listen to it! 

Out now: Vehemence Abyss' album "Echoes of the Macabre: True Crime Legends"

Portuguese Black Metal band Vehemence Abyss, just released their new album Echoes of the Macabre: True Crime Legends, on the 25th of December.

It is their second full-length, and it promises to deliver a very technical old school Black Metal music.

The album has 7 tracks, all and each of them about the story of very well known murderers and serial killers.

It is intense, fast, full of anger and fury. If you need that boost of adrenaline, this album might work well for you.

Echoes of the Macabre: True Crime Legends is available for you to listen to, and also for you to purchase, here:

https://studios13.bandcamp.com/album/echoes-of-the-macabre-true-crime-legends

Enjoy 🤘

Review: Corroding Soul's EP "Nothing"

UK atmospheric Black Metal one man band Corroding Soul released a EP last April, called Nothing.

The EP has 4 tracks, of a very uplifting atmospheric Black Metal. I don't even know if I'd call it atmospheric. It's not raw, it's not traditional, has definitely some atmospheric elements, but I find it different than most atmospheric Black Metal, as it brings more joy and energy.

After listening to Nothing, I feel inspired, energised, motivated. Not sure this is what David was aiming for, but for me it is a good thing. Some Black Metal makes you depressed, other takes you out of depression, other makes you angry, other makes you emotional, and so on. Nothing gave me a boost and I am very happy with it.

I usually name a favourite track when I do a review, here it won't be different. I go with Unveil. But title track is also amazing. So full of strength and power.

This review was long overdue, and my only regret is that only now I managed to get to it. 

So if you like Black Metal with a synth as a very strong background, if you like some more light and melodic Black Metal than not, if you want something to make you feel full of vigor and if you're not very strict about the traditional, then you'll like Nothing.

It is very different from the music I usually get to review, it is also very different from the music I usually go for, but I definitely liked and will listen to it again.