Black Metal

Hailing from the ever-fertile Finnish black metal underground, NOCTURNAL SORCERY made their public debut in 2014 with the Satanas Angels Victory Call demo. With vocalist/guitarist Maledictus Vult hailing from the cult Sadokist (he has since departed that band), it’d be erroneous to say that NOCTURNAL SORCERY were a completely brand-new entity. Nevertheless, they continued to feed the (freezing) fire with a split with Daemonlust in 2017 and then another demo, Symbols of Violent Death, in 2019. During all this, a number of successful local gigs took place. The stage thus set, NOCTURNAL SORCERY arrive with their long-awaited debut album, The Holy Law in Total Ruin. Aptly titled, The Holy Law in Total Ruin lays waste to unbelievers who say black metal must “progress” to survive. No, black metal doesn’t need to be more than what it already is – BLACK METAL – and NOCTURNAL SORCERY deeply understand this intrinsic truth as they unfurl nine screeds of hateful-yet-melodic classicism that’s paradigmatically Finnish through and through. While much of the album’s 46-minute runtime is composed of concise slices of cryogenic filth, NOCTURNAL SORCERY are just as adept at stretching compositions to extended lengths, patiently building tension and immersing the listener in the iciest waters. Completing the totality is the occasional inclusion of tastefully subtle synths.

Black Metal

Although a brand-new entity, WHITE RUNE are a duo of SIELUNVIHOLLINEN frontman Ruttokieli on vocals, guitar, bass, and keyboards and his drummer brother Soldau, also currently of Ehre. In 2021, they exploded into being with two shockingly accomplished demos, The Spell of Winter Holocaust and The Eternal Fires of Cleansing, showing a new face to Finnish black metal by, paradoxically, harkening back to old times. And now that face is fully revealed with the full-length Dawn of the White Rune. Indeed consolidating WHITE RUNE’s considerable strengths, the band’s aptly titled debut album bursts forth with an effervescence that’s undeniable – and undeniably unique, within the wider sphere of Finnish black metal. With vampiric organ to the fore but thankfully eluding the mawkish excess of “vampiric black metal,” WHITE RUNE proceed to wind and wend through an ever-surging storm of mysticism and malevolence. Their violence is real and the passion palpable, but there’s a deft touch to their dynamics here; nightsky splendor and astral awe are always present, no matter the tempo, and actual lead guitar plays an equally central role in conveying the emotions coursing through Dawn of the White Rune. And while comparisons to contemporaneous countrymen Faustian Pact, Vargrav, and Mooncitadel are certainly valid, more accurately could WHITE RUNE here harken back to the late ’90s works of Darkwoods My Betrothed, Thyrane, Alghazanth, Trollheims Grott, and even …And Oceans, thereby bringing the lineage full circle like the Ouroboros itself. To celebrate this momentous occasion, HAMMER OF HATE will also release a compilation titled The Spell of Eternal Fire, bringing together both WHITE RUNE demos. In the meantime, open thine eyes and witness the Dawn of the White Rune!

Black Metal

A split between the most known acts in the underground scene.

Exclusive import from KVLT (Finland).