Category: news
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The Black Crowes Launch Southern Hospitality Tour: Set List
The guest-assisted show was full of finely tuned fervor and expansive musical exploration. Continue reading… -
Listening Now : The Tacet Mode – Wild Country
The Tacet Mode explore transformation, self-awareness, and spiritual evolution on Wild Country, a reflective alternative rock journey wrapped in atmospheric textures and emotionally charged songwriting. Balancing introspective lyricism with expansive instrumentation, the track confronts the struggle of transcending ego within an increasingly narcissistic world. Melodic guitars, dynamic rhythms, and a cinematic sense of progression give Wild Country both emotional weight and an uplifting sense of forward motion.
Thoughtful, immersive, and quietly anthemic, The Tacet Mode craft a song that feels equally philosophical and deeply human.
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silverlake murder Premiere New Single & Music Video “Scalp of a Coward” From Upcoming New EP “Impurity”
Stockholm, Sweden grinding deathcore quartet silverlake murder premiere a new single and music video by the name of "Scalp of a Coward". The track is taken from their upcoming new EP "Impurity", which will be out in stores May 15, 2026. Check out "Scalp of a Coward" streaming via YouTube and Spotify for you now below. Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com -
Album Review: Dimmu Borgir – Grand Serpent Rising
Album Review: Dimmu Borgir – Grand Serpent Rising
Reviewed by Dan Barnes
Unquestionably forged in the same early-nineties inferno which spat forth the likes of fellow Norwegians Mayhem, Gorgoroth and Darkthrone, Dimmu Borgir’s path was always closer to Emperor and Satyricon and as time wore on and sounds were refined, they would commit the cardinal sin and become mainstream.
Melodic and symphonic elements had been a key part of Dimmu’s sound from the 1995 debut, For All Tid, growing to be a bigger and more prominent feature on follow-up Stormblåst and the associated Devil’s Path EP the next year. By the time of 1997’s masterpiece, Enthroned Darkness Triumphant, the balance had been struck and tunes like Mourning Palaces, Spellbound (By the Devil) and A Succubus In Rapture would define the band’s live shows for the next quarter of a century.
2010’s Abrahadabra and 2018’s Eonian saw Dimmu striped down to a three-piece of vocalist Shagrath and guitarists Galder and Silenoz, using session musicians to fill the rhythm section. In all honesty, I found Eonian to be too over-blown to be an enjoyable listen, despite it having some decent material.
Eight years in the making, new, tenth, record Grand Serpent Rising returns us to the Dimmu tradition of having a three-named album title but finds Glader having exited to focus his energies on Old Man’s Child. Therefore, the songwriting duties fell to Shagrath and Silenoz and, in Grand Serpent Rising, they have shed the skin of the over-wrought previous album to bring us back in line with their noughties output.
That’s not to say this new record is teeming with bombast and classicism, but here it feels as though it serves a purpose, whereas before it seemed to be there for the sake of it. Extended intro/ opening track, Tridentium plays against a downpour, as morose, orchestral strings support a deep, booming narrative voice in the sort of way only Dimmu Borgir can do and keep a straight face.
Second single, Ascent launches with a black metal blast beat and raw vocals; hard-hitting, dirty riffs prove the band might have become refined over the years, but they’re still a bunch of angry kids at heart. Not that it’s devoid of symphonics, they’re just more measured, allowing space for a soaring solo and sibilant hissing vocals, in keeping with the snake-motif of the album title.
While most of Grand Serpent Rising’s song structures follow a similar pattern of bringing symphonic and metallic elements together, Dimmu’s playing with the introductory ideas is what gives the album its interest. Classical acoustics give way to As Seen in the Unseen’s fierce extremity; piano precursors The Gyptfarer’s dark gothic moments, and what sounds like a seventeenth century lute can surely be heard in the opening bars of Repository of Devine Transformation.
The Exonerated feels straight-up second wave black metal, making good use of blasting drums, rapid triplets and strained vocals; Recognizant has Dimmu sounding like Cradle of Filth at times.
Grand Serpent Rising is the first time Dimmu Borgir have written songs in their native Norwegian since Death Cult Armageddon’s Allehelgens Død I Helveds Rike back in 2003, with first single, Ulvgield & Blodsodel’s folk vibes emboldened by a ticking clock and windswept atmospherics. Slik Mynnes en Alklkymist combines those folk elements with the orchestral, alongside rampant blasts and even a singalong chorus, to great effect.
In the early listens for this review, the song that stuck out the most is Phantom of the Nemesis, a dark, slower paced tune, launching from a bleak intro and a demonic voice, it gives itself up slowly and resists the urge to go full-Dimmu, opting instead for an incremental use of those familiar tropes.
Bass duties are shared between songwriters, with percussion being again provided by the returning drummer, Dariusz Brzozowski, who’d previously worked with the band in 2010 and 2018 and knows a thing or to about extreme drumming from his time with Vader. Keys and orchestration come from Geir Bratland, who’s worked with Emperor, God Seed and Satyricon among others.
At almost seventy-minutes Grand Serpent Rising does feel like it could do with a little pruning here and there, but the quality of the music and the crystal-clear production reduced that problem to mere ephemera. Ultimately, you know what you’re getting with a new Dimmu Borgir record and this one delivers on all those fronts.
The post Album Review: Dimmu Borgir – Grand Serpent Rising appeared first on The Razor's Edge.
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Listening Now : PepeTheMenace – YOUNG LOVE
PepeTheMenace taps straight into early-2000s pop-punk nostalgia on YOUNG LOVE, a high-energy anthem bursting with youthful emotion, crunchy guitars, and adrenaline-fueled hooks. Blending punk urgency with catchy alternative-rock melodies, the track captures the reckless excitement and fleeting intensity of young romance with undeniable sincerity. Fast-paced rhythms and anthemic choruses give YOUNG LOVE the feel of a windows-down summer soundtrack, echoing the spirit of classic pop-punk while keeping its emotional core refreshingly genuine. Energetic, nostalgic, and irresistibly hooky, PepeTheMenace delivers a love-struck punk rocker built for singalongs and late-night drives.
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Listening Now : Tourist Attraction – Be Better
Tourist Attraction channel sharp self-reflection into infectious indie-rock energy on Be Better, a hook-loaded anthem about growth, accountability, and breaking free from self-sabotage. Driven by punchy guitars, playful melodies, and choruses built to linger long after the song ends, the track balances emotional honesty with an uplifting sense of momentum. Rather than wallowing in regret, Be Better captures the empowering moment of choosing change and stepping into a stronger version of yourself. Catchy, heartfelt, and bursting with youthful energy, Tourist Attraction deliver indie rock with both emotional clarity and undeniable singalong appeal.
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Listening Now : Gooseberry – Durak
Gooseberry strike with sharp wit and explosive energy on Durak, a snarling indie-rock anthem that channels the punchy spirit of Green Day’s Dookie through a modern lens of social satire and generational frustration. Fueled by gritty guitars, restless rhythms, and hook-heavy momentum, the track tears into nostalgia-fueled arrogance and self-righteousness with both humor and bite. Beneath its energetic exterior lies a surprisingly thoughtful exploration of blindness, ego, and the stories people tell themselves to feel powerful. Catchy, confrontational, and bursting with live-wire intensity, Durak proves Gooseberry know exactly how to turn sharp commentary into exhilarating rock catharsis.
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Listening Now : Philamelian – An Old Statue Reimagined (feat. Özge Ürer)
Philamelian unveils a deeply cinematic and meditative sound world on An Old Statue Reimagined, a haunting fusion of ambient electronics, modern classical composition, and ritualistic vocal textures. Built around delicate piano motifs, organic ensemble performances, and slowly evolving drones, the piece feels like a forgotten relic gradually awakening back to life. Strings, brass, and ethereal voices breathe warmth and humanity into its initially electronic foundations, creating an atmosphere suspended between memory, myth, and science fiction. Elegant, immersive, and emotionally resonant, An Old Statue Reimagined is a quiet resurrection rendered in beautifully cinematic sound.
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Listening Now : Silver Firs – Linen and Tears
Silver Firs craft a tender yet emotionally restless atmosphere on Linen And Tears, a beautifully intimate indie-rock lullaby wrapped in shimmering psychedelia and heartfelt vulnerability. Gentle strummed guitars, warm basslines, glowing keyboards, and soft vocal harmonies drift together with effortless grace, creating a sound that feels comforting yet quietly urgent. Written as a lullaby for singer Raphael Elmiger’s daughter, the track transforms personal affection into something expansive and emotionally resonant. Balancing wistful melancholy with subtle uplifting energy, Linen And Tears glows with warmth, sincerity, and understated cinematic beauty.
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Listening Now : Plummet – Mend
Plummet sink deep into shadowy slowcore atmospheres on Mend, a beautifully heavy slow-burn that merges shoegaze haze, ambient textures, and crushing emotional weight. Layered guitars drift through dark, spacious production while restrained vocals and minimal rhythms create a feeling of quiet devastation simmering beneath the surface. The track unfolds patiently, gradually building tension until its massive finale erupts with cathartic force and distortion-soaked intensity. Moody, melancholic, and emotionally consuming, Mend captures the aching beauty of isolation with remarkable depth and cinematic power.
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