Though not normally recognized for its black metal scene outside of Cradle of Filth and maybe Wodensthrone and Winterfylleth, there’s is something foul afoot in the English black metal underground. Cacophonous has exposed gems like Necronautical, Old Corpse Road and The Infernal Sea. And now Halo of Flies has chipped in with the vinyl release of the stunning debut EP from Liverpool’s Dawn Ray’d.
As as you’d expect from Halo of Flies, it has a crust undercurrent, but is still tangibly black metal with some added atmospheric/folk/violin elements that make it even more impressive. I cant tell you a whole lot about about the band other than there are former members of screamo band We Came Out Like Tigers, but rest assured this act has black metal dynamics down.
The guitar tone is gritty and crusty, and the vocals are gravelly rasps. The riffs are superb mix of raw tremolo (but earthier) blasts and d beat furor. Its simply rages with a perfect sense of bite and brittle, hateful energy. The 23 minute, 6 track effort bristles with a feral, snarling delivery and then you get these killer violin/cello segments that add a sense of folky/woody, organic prose as heard on “Cauldron of Rebirth”, “Strident Voices” and “At the Still Point”. And in fact, some of these moments (and the band’s deeply political themes) would be right at home on a Fall of Efrara/Light Bearer/Morrow album, so they are a perfect fit for Halo of Flies.
what about Akercocke, Voices, Anaal Nathrakh, Axis of Perdition…plenty of great black metal from England.
on Aug 17th, 2016 at 07:13Ackercocke,voices,Antichrist imperium…not black metal. White medal and all associated acts minus caina are quite good though.
on Aug 17th, 2016 at 07:50yeah, sorry, they’re black metal. maybe a little more diverse, not “pure.” Caina’s great too.
on Aug 20th, 2016 at 07:07