Raphael Alecto - Hessian Firm

Tau Cross – Messengers of Deception (2020)

Rob Miller has been treading an interesting and consistent path in music, starting as one of the pioneers of crust punk through the highly influential Amebix, redefining their sound through…

By Raphael Alecto August 4, 2021Review

Review

Empire Auriga – Auriga Dying (2008)

Despite the vague and throwaway "metal" descriptive usually attached to it, what Empire Auriga present on their mysterious debut album is firmly set within the purposes and methods of ambient…

By Raphael Alecto July 26, 2021Review

Label News

Mefitis release music video for “The Witherways”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiwVEuw0lwI&ab_channel=Mefitis Mefitis have just unveiled the music video for the song "The Witherways", from their latest album Offscourings. Like the accompanying music, the short portrays a sinister and mysterious foray…

By Raphael Alecto July 11, 2021Label News

Review

Some excursions into Atmospheric Black Metal

It is easy to understand the maligned reputation of the "atmospheric" epithet in black metal (or metal and music at large), first given the low bar of quality established by…

By Raphael Alecto July 2, 2021Review

Review

Unholy – From the Shadows (1993)

Finland’s Unholy gained a reputation in underground metal for their unique take on the funeral doom genre, itself a very specific niche that might come off as inherently limited but…

By Raphael Alecto June 20, 2021Review

Podcast

Hessian Scrum: Nisse Karlén from Sacramentum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiUqAaiol2w The latest episode of the Hessian Scrum podcast is already out; this time, I step in to interview Nisse Karlén, vocalist of Sacramentum. Topics include: his early tape trading…

By Raphael Alecto June 4, 2021Podcast

Podcast

Hessian Scrum: Yusaf from Dødheimsgard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mkp64RlNdC8&ab_channel=HessianFirm The Hessian Scrum podcast returns with a very special guest: Vicotnik (Yusaf Parvez), from legendary and boundary-pushing norwegian band Dødheimsgard and other projects such as Ved Buens Ende and…

By Raphael Alecto May 21, 2021Podcast

Analysis Review

Septicflesh and Horrified: Two Underappreciated EPs

The extreme metal scene that flourished in the late '80s/early '90s in Greece attained distinction and a particular reputation in the underground for most bands' heightened incorporation of melody and…

By Raphael Alecto May 3, 2021Analysis, Review

Review

Skin Chamber – Wound (1991)

Skin Chamber was a short-lived side-project by members of Controlled Bleeding that managed to release two albums in as many years. Their debut’s appropriate title – perhaps a reference to…

By Raphael Alecto March 30, 2021Review

Review

Empyrium – Über den Sternen (2021)

German band Empyrium’s admirable path consistently shows them preserving an highly unique voice while adapting to varying contexts and an evolving inventory of skills. The band’s strengths as composers and…

By Raphael Alecto February 27, 2021Review